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Shanji An, left, and Mei Shu Jiang, right

(Rutherford police)

RUTHERFORD — A few weeks after a Rutherford woman followed her husband into a borough spa and found customers receiving more than massages, police arrested two employees on prostitution charges, according to authorities.

An employee of the Rose Spa, Mei Shu Jiang, 45, of Palisades Park, allegedly offered sex to an undercover officer on Thursday for a $60 fee, borough police Chief John Russo said. After the offer was made, the officer gave the signal to other officers, who forced their way into the massage parlor, since the door was locked, Russo said. Jiang and another employee, Shanji An, 42, of Flushing, N.Y., ran out a second-story window onto an adjacent roof and then into a courtyard, where they were arrested, he said.

“It’s disturbing," Russo said. "They’re doing what they’re doing under the guise of a legitimate business.”

Police first learned of the alleged prostitution roughly three weeks ago. A borough woman followed her husband into the spa, which is located on the second floor of 29 Park Avenue, above a Chinese food restaurant. She went from room to room and saw "sexual acts" being performed, Russo said. She called police, and all the customers fled, Russo said.

After the incident, she posted flyers around the borough alerting residents of the massage parlor's alleged illegal activities. On Thursday, an undercover officer went into the spa, posing as a customer seeking a massage.

The massage parlor is temporarily shutdown, and Russo said he is working with the health department to shutter the business permanently.

Jiang was charged with engaging in prostitution, obstruction, resisting arrest and violating borough code by not having a massage therapy license. An faces the same charges, with the exception of the prostitution allegation. She was charged with promoting prostitution, Russo said.



Kathryn Brenzel can be reached at kbrenzel@nj.com. Follow her on Twitter @katiebrenzel. Find NJ.com on Facebook.