7 months ago
Tighter restrictions on massage parlors in Bibb County could force them to move south to Houston County. That's according to Nicole Poss with HODAC and some Houston County law enforcement agencies.
Poss says the businesses often carry ties to the human trafficking trade, and they want the community to recognize the signs, before it becomes a problem.
Pam Floyd at Harvest Church says hearing about human trafficking close to home sparked an idea for ministry. She said, You think it's somewhere else in the world, and you think it's so far away from home."
She says the church learned it can happen anywhere and wants to take action. Floyd said, When you hear about all this injustice in the world, how can we sit and not do anything?"
They'll join local law enforcement and HODAC in learning about human trafficking and its local ties.
Nicole Poss with HODAC said, Drugs can be used once. Little girls can be used over and over again."
Nicole Poss at HODAC says the trade includes selling underage girls for sex, forcing foreign women into domestic servitude, and often ties into illegal activities in massage parlors. That's why part of their focus includes keeping the spas out of Houston County.
As Macon and Bibb County tighten up their ordinances, Houston County Law Enforcement says its less likely that the businesses would move north to Atlanta, because there's already so many of the establishments there. Police are more concerned that they would move south down I-75 toward Perry and Houston County.
Perry and Houston County do not have laws specifically addressing spas, but Warner Robins and Centerville do.
Centerville fine-tuned their restrictions in 2008, after police said an employee offered an undercover officer sexual services for money at the Sun Spa.
Sergeant Mike Earl said they never linked that business to the human trafficking trade, but he's opening his eyes to the potential problem. Earl said, "If you're not aware of what you're looking for, you're not going to see it."
People interested in learning more about human trafficking can attend a free seminar next Tuesday January 23rd. It's hosted by Middle Georgia Alert, a local alliance formed to raise awareness about the trade.
The training is at the Juvenile Justice Building on Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins and starts at 10:30 a.m.
