Two Flagstaff police officers went undercover to massage parlors, took their pants off, and allowed themselves to be fondled at least five different times each. Experts tell ABC15 that state law clearly outlines that as illegal. The Flagstaff officer went on to explain that he tried to minimize the amount of time the massage parlor employee was fondling his exposed genitals. And like I said, I've never done one of these, so I was fairly nervous and I didn't know where to stop it. So I was trying to stop it quickly.
Police reports reveal Officer Eberhardt allowed different women to touch him seven more times over the next 48 hours.
Roughly three months later, another Flagstaff police employee, Officer Hutchinson, went back into five of the same massage parlors and did the same thing. The reason for the second round of sexual contact was to see if the businesses would accept debit cards. Both men documented every instance of sexual contact with a recording device, and in detailed reports. Defense attorneys, trafficking experts and even other law enforcement tell ABC15 there are a litany of issues with how this operation was conducted.
For starters, state law clearly outlines that what the officers detailed in their reports is illegal. Second, experts say the fondling was not necessary for police and prosecutors to pursue prostitution charges. Rideout is not involved in any way with this case. He is referring to state statute :. Flagstaff Police Chief Dan Musselman told ABC15 his employee did not violate state law because the officer did not sexually touch the masseuse.
State law does not differentiate the touching. The officer, who the chief says is the victim, staked out the eight parlors, walked into each one with a recording device, paid cash, rolled over and took off his boxers. Prosecutors indicated to the grand jury that they focused on the owners or operators of the massage businesses. Like many lawyers involved in these cases, he was shocked Flagstaff PD and HSI used an investigative technique he says has been widely condemned.
