Several massage businesses were shut down in unincorporated Cobb County in the past year. A team of men and women have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to tackle the problems spoke exclusively with Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell. Dan Formato began noticing problems at some health spas. Complaints about some health spas began coming in. Some customers claimed they were inappropriately touched during massages. Unlicensed massage therapists were found working at some of the businesses.
The problems led to an action plan that involved visiting all 88 health spas in unincorporated cobb county within a one-year period, with some businesses receiving multiple visits. Police and the manager of the Cobb County business license division said they noticed problems at 20 to 25 businesses out of the 88 they visited. Their efforts led to nearly 20 businesses shutting down and multiple people have been arrested, mostly business owners who are accused of allowing unlicensed massage therapists to conduct massages.
Officials say these illicit or illegitimate businesses are often hiding in plain sight, with many storefronts in shopping plazas. Atlanta police investigating incident involving 7-year-old and firearm. According to the Business License Division, problems start after a license for the business is issued.
A closer look behind closed doors showed part of a nationwide problem. Officials also re-wrote the county ordinance for health spas, after that they used a 6-month moratorium suspending new health spa business applications to focus on strengthening the ordinance that helps regulates these kinds of businesses.
The Georgia Attorney Generals office said it has joined in on visits with police and county officials. Palmquist told Newell her team has successfully shutdown 31 illicit massage businesses statewide.
