MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A Maryville police officer who was reportedly raped throughout an undercover investigation of a therapeutic massage parlor final yr has filed a civil lawsuit.
The civil lawsuit filed in June seeks $500,000 in damages from Xiedong Xu, the previous proprietor of Oriental Wellness Therapeutic massage, and Foothills Mall Proprietor Equities, LLC.
Xu was charged with one rely of rape and two counts of impersonation of a licensed skilled in June 2022 after a feminine undercover officer reported she was sexually assaulted throughout a therapeutic massage whereas posing as a buyer. The prison case has been sure over to a grand jury, which can convene in September.
In response to an incident report filed within the case, the police division was investigating allegations of sexual misconduct throughout massages. It additionally states that the undercover officer was despatched into the enterprise on June 7, 2022, to see if the enterprise would supply therapeutic massage remedy providers with out a license.
The Maryville Each day Instances first reported the fees and lawsuit. The newspaper additionally reported that the officer filed an inner grievance shortly after the investigation claiming that she was put in hurt’s manner as a consequence of an absence of planning earlier than the investigation.
“As we go about our day by day work, we’re confronted with sure realities. A kind of is that police work is harmful, and every single day can convey unexpected threats to every member of our police drive. Whereas we do our greatest to guard our staff from hurt – together with by means of a rigorous requirement of coaching and improvement – this inherent danger is known and an unlucky actuality for our occupation.”
Metropolis of Maryville assertion
Investigators discovered that Oriental Wellness Therapeutic massage had misplaced its license in 2017 and Xu had surrendered his therapeutic massage remedy license to the state licensure board in Might 2019.
The swimsuit asserts that the officer has been unable to renew her duties as a police officer on account of post-traumatic stress and excessive psychological anguish.
Xu’s legal professional, WATE authorized analyst Greg Isaacs, has filed a movement to delay the civil continuing till the prison case has been concluded.
