York Regional Police have arrested a man who they allege was pimping a 16-year-old girl through Blue Pearl Spa in North York.
Police said the man runs the massage parlor north of Yorkdale Mall, on Dufferin Street, where men can get sex for cash.
Acting on a tip about a 16-year-old girl that came in Monday, police arrested the 43-year-old man outside his mother’s home on Friday.
“Are you sure there’s not a mistake?” the man asked.
York Regional Police Det. Const. Shane MacKenzie said they found the 16-year-old allegedly working in the spa.
“We entered the spa and we did locate the female in question, confirming that she was only 16 years of age, and that she was working as a prostitute at the time,” MacKenzie said.
After arresting the man, police went to both his home and the spa, where they allegedly found a client who was engaged in a sex act.
A website for the business contains a disclaimer, saying that Blue Pear Spa is a licensed body-rub parlour.
“We in no way offer adult entertainment services of any kind,” the website says.
MacKenzie said there could be other victims.
“For the most part, they're doing it out of desperation and all too often they become victims of exploitation and certainly the younger they are, the more susceptible they are to that,” he said.
Police also arrested a 42-year-old woman in connection with the case.
The man arrested will appear in a Newmarket court Saturday to face charges of procuring a person to become a prostitute and living off the avails of juvenile prostitutions.
Police are asking anyone with information about Blue Pearl Spa, including anyone who worked there, to call the York Regional Police vice unit with tips, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
With files from CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry
