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Uploaded: Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 12:08 PM
Main Street business busted for alleged prostitution
Undercover officer arrested massage parlor owner after receiving reported sexual advance
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by Emily Atwood
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
Photos
 
| Tranquility Health Center on 739-E Main St. was closed in July after an undercover prostitution operation revealed illicit acts performed by employees, police reported this week.
Sgt. Barry Mickleburgh of the special investigations unit said an undercover officer made an appointment at the center on July 27.
"When he arrived, he was disrobed and inappropriately touched," Mickleburgh said. "He was told if he wanted [the inappropriate behavior] to continue it would be $40 extra."
The undercover officer then arrested the center's owner, who was booked at Santa Rita Jail, and the business was shut down.
Police were tipped on possible illicit activity when surrounding businesses began complaining about the high traffic of male customers at Tranquility Health Center. Police then conducted an investigation to see if the business was in compliance with the city ordinances. Together with the Alameda SAFE (sexual assault felony enforcement) Task Force, they conducted a sting operation.
Mickleburgh said prostitution is uncommon in Pleasanton, although there have been prostitution arrests "from time to time." He said the last biggest bust was in July 2006 when 13 people were arrested for conducting online prostitution out of an apartment complex.
At the initial hearing, a judge revoked the Tranquility Health Center massage permit. The owner reportedly is appealing the decision and will have a hearing in October.
The massage business permit process includes a background check and owners are given an informational packet which says the permit can be revoked if the business is found in violation.
"Owners are responsible for whatever happens in the business," Mickleburgh said, adding that the owners often know or should know if employees are engaging in illicit acts.
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Posted by Resident, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Sep 19, 2007 at 3:06 pm I never heard of that place before now. what is the background of the owner? Did he/she know about the acts?
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Posted by Cindy, a resident of Dublin, on Sep 19, 2007 at 3:09 pm why is prostitution not legal but abortion is?
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Posted by Lily, a resident of the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on Sep 20, 2007 at 11:48 am Cindy: was that comment really necessary?
Have you ever heard of AIDS? if your not sure why prosititution isn't legal go visit Africa and see the dying children stricken with disease. Prosititution isn't legal for more reasons than just the obvious.
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Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Sep 20, 2007 at 5:08 pm Lily,
I don't get it. Are you implying that African children are infected with AIDS because their parents are prostitutes?
Probably the main reason prostitution isn't legal in this country is because we were founded on Christian and Puritanical values.
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Posted by Janna, a resident of the Mission Park neighborhood, on Sep 21, 2007 at 1:09 pm Yeah, right! If our country is so Christian and Puritanical, why have we caused so much death and destruction in Iraq? How is that in any way Christian? I'd really love to know.
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Posted by Lily, a resident of the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on Sep 21, 2007 at 1:16 pm Stacey... in no way was implying that all AIDS infected children were stricken becasue their parents were prosititues. Please do not get it twisted.
What i meant was brothels and prositution rings are outlawed for more reasons than just the plain fact that its nasty. If it was allowable imagine out of hand it would get. Its an unfortune truth that women especially are subject to sex slavery in parts of Africa. And payments aren't always in the form of money. If governments in Africa outlawed prostitution it possibly it could slow down the spread of AIDS in Africa.
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Posted by Concerned, a resident of another community, on Sep 21, 2007 at 1:19 pm Web Link
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Posted by Rob, a member of the Walnut Grove Elementary School community, on Sep 21, 2007 at 6:46 pm I personally think prostitution should always stay illegal and abortion legal. It's a woman's choice to choose abortion. As for the religious comments, I don't think any war can be backed by Christianity or the Islamic religion. If a person really goes and studies those two religions, you would see how much more related they are than different. The prophet's of both religions did not believe in "blow myself up for religious freedom."
Well that was off topic, so I do apologize. But I think it's funny a hooker house was found here in Pleasanton. Instead of aruging, why not just accept it was here, it's been busted and be happy with that.
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Posted by JD, a resident of the Vineyard Avenue neighborhood, on Sep 22, 2007 at 4:25 pm Lily,
You have it all wrong it is BECAUSE prostitution IS ILLEGAL that all these diseases crop up. If you go to places where it is legal the prostitutes there is very little if any disease. If you legalize it you get rid of all the crime and drug elements. It's that simple. It's far less dangerous then the "legal" drug of alcohol.
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Posted by Lily, a resident of the Kottinger Ranch neighborhood, on Sep 24, 2007 at 7:22 am JD: So if you'd legalized heroin and cocaine... we'd have a more productive society? or is that too extreme for you? You must have never known some one with an STD or a drug addiction to make comments like that.
If you want to live where prostitution is legal then i suggest you pack your bags and move to Nevada... because nobody in Pleasanton wants a brothel house.
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Posted by Lily Jr., a resident of another community, on Sep 24, 2007 at 10:39 am Obviously somoene wants a brothel in pleasanton, since they were patronizing this place.
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Posted by aaron, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Sep 24, 2007 at 3:07 pm I never heard of this it's nut's. No one I know ever heard of it either, they must have been kinda discreat, even though they fell for the sting. how long were they in town for? and who was working that stand.? lol. but seriously
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Posted by Patricia, a member of the Vintage Hills Elementary School community, on Oct 2, 2007 at 7:53 pm " . . . nobody in Pleasanton wants a brothel house." Except for the men who were visiting it, and I guess, the women who were making money on it BECAUSE men from the area were willing to pay for it. (And yes, I'm pretty sure the johns were relatively local. You can't tell me they're driving in from Oakland to get some nice Pleasanton prostitutes!)
And don't be naive. There was another "spa" on Spring Street busted a couple years ago for running a prostitution business. (For the record, there's a new owner now, and I've heard good things about legitimate services there!)
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Posted by Dan, a resident of the Foothill Place neighborhood, on Nov 4, 2007 at 9:52 pm Comment removed by Pleasanton Weekly staff
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Posted by if you want to talk about abortion, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2007 at 7:46 am Dan,
A fully gestated baby has the ability to survive outside a womb whereas a 4-5 month old fetus can't even breath on its own (ie. can't survive without medical intervention). An 8-month old fetus born as a preemie even has a difficult time without medical intervention. (portion of comment removed by PW staff)
A woman sometimes DOESN'T have a right to choose. Should a rape victim have to suffer because she didn't have a choice in the matter? Men have choices too.
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Posted by Dan, a resident of the Foothill Place neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2007 at 5:06 pm Let me clarify, is it your position that as long as a baby can live without help it would be deemed a viable life? So does this mean if a baby can't live without help it would be deemed that it is not a viable life?
Also, the oldest argument in the book- Rape victims. What percentage of abortions do you really think are performed because the woman was raped? Of course in those few cases things are very complicated and I for one would not judge a woman for aborting in that specific case.
Two many adults lack personal discipline and run around acting like an animal in heat. It is to bad they must kill children in the process
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Posted by Kumar, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2007 at 8:45 pm Dan, you are my hero! Thank you for speaking your mind my courageous friend. Abortions are almost as bad as wasted chole bhatura. In my opinion we should all just eat our chole while we still can. Dan, you want to come over sometime and have some tandoori chicken? and chole bhatura??
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Posted by Dan, a resident of the Foothill Place neighborhood, on Nov 5, 2007 at 9:40 pm WOW!
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Posted by Dan, a resident of the Foothill Place neighborhood, on Nov 7, 2007 at 7:04 pm Dear Pleasanton Weekly staff.
Maybe this publication is not ready for a chat line. Media byass even comes out in this site. You remove my comment because it is too offensive, my sarcasim is over the top.
A womans right to kill? No problem, A guy who is angry about? Gets his comments removed. Grow up or don't have a message board.
Wait, let me be more politically correct.
* All illegals should get the same rights as those who came here legally.
* Gays should be allowed too marry.
* Hilary should be president
* Girls in school should get birth control pills without parents consent.
* How dare we expect for our kids to pass tests in school, test taking can wreck their self esteem.
* Let's start a porn club on campus.
Now, are you happy? I am singing your tune.
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Posted by aaron, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Nov 21, 2007 at 10:57 am dan i like it. people are too offended over opinions. you have every right to say your piece. though people may not agree with you it is your right to say it. people are looking for anything to offend them nowadays. and becoming way tooooooooo liberal. some things are better off unchanged.
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Posted by Jeb Bing, editor of the Pleasanton Weekly, on Nov 24, 2007 at 7:30 am
Jeb Bing is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com This thread has run its course. Thanks for posting. Jeb Bing
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Sorry. This topic has been locked and no further comments can be posted. | |
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