BREAKING: Police and feds investigating local spas

Posted Tuesday, May 7, 2013 11:32 am

BENNINGTON - Bennington Police, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are currently searching two spas in Bennington as part of an investigation into human trafficking and prostitution.

Local police and FBI agents served the search warrants at Green Spa on Main Street and Cozy Spa on North Street around 12:30 p.m. Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette said search warrants were granted by the Bennington Superior Court Criminal Division.

'For several months now we've been receiving complaints about two establishments here in Bennington, one being on North Street and the other being here on Main Street, indicating that there could, perhaps, be human trafficking taking place here as well as, perhaps, prostitution, or things related to prostitution," Doucette said.

Based on information, police received, including a letter about one of the spas, and "several months worth of investigation," Bennington Police Detective Sgt. David Rowland applied for search warrants, Doucette said.

Bennington County State's Attorney Erica Marthage sought the assistance of the FBI with translating and with searches, according to Doucette.

Two people were being questioned inside Green Spa Tuesday afternoon. Doucette said both were foreigners, but it was unclear what their nationality is.

"We're still in the preliminary stages of the search warrants here and I don't really have any other information right now," he said outside of Green Spa.

A full story will appear in Wednesday's edition of the Banner.