DANBURY, CT — The City of Danbury is seeking a court order to shut down massage operations at a Lake Avenue spa, claiming it served customers without a license and that customers reported receiving sexual services there.
The city and Ryan Boggan, assistant director of Danbury Health and Human Services, filed a verified complaint against SN Spa Inc. and Zena Spa 68 Inc., both associated with 68 Lake Ave., Unit 2. The city is seeking temporary and permanent injunctions barring massage therapy activity at the property.
According to the complaint, SN Spa operated a massage parlor at the address through April 30. Zena Spa 68 Inc. became the owner of the massage parlor as of May 1 and submitted an application for a massage therapy establishment license in June.
The lawsuit follow months of police surveillance at the property.
Danbury police received a complaint April 22 claiming SN Spa was operating without a license and that customers were entering through a rear door, according to court records. Police subsequently conducted surveillance and reported seeing male customers enter and leave through the rear entrance.
Police continued surveillance after Zena Spa was formed in May, according to the complaint.
On July 1, officers watched two men enter through the rear entrance before later conducting investigative traffic stops after they left. One man told an officer he was at Zena Spa to engage in sex, according to the complaint.
Police conducted additional surveillance July 2 and stopped another customer after he left the business, according to court records.
That man told police he had been referred to the establishment by a friend because the spa offered "happy endings," according to the city's complaint. He told police he received a full-body massage and a "happy ending" from an employee and paid $180 for the services.
The city said SN Spa continued operating as a massage therapy establishment after its license was denied and Zena Spa operated without a license. The complaint describes the violations as a "serious, immediate, and ongoing public health risk."
Danbury is asking the court to issue temporary and permanent injunctions requiring the businesses to cease massage therapy activity at the property. The city is also seeking a civil penalty of $250 for each day the violation continues.
A remote hearing on the city's request for a temporary injunction is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 11:30 a.m., according to court records.
Court records show Zena Spa 68 Inc. was formed May 1 and lists 68 Lake Ave., Unit 2, as its business address. Ran Kim is listed as the company's agent.
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