F'ville masseur charged in November incident

Sat, 01/03/2009 - 2:43pm
By: Ben Nelms

An arrest has been made stemming from the Nov. 14 incident at Honey Hair, Skin and Body salon in Fayetteville where a woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by the masseur.

Fayetteville Police spokesperson Glenn Askew said Friday that 21 year- old masseur Tariq Stevens, of Riverdale, was arrested Dec. 23 on charges of sexual battery.

Askew said the woman alleged she had fallen asleep during the massage and had awakened to find the man assaulting her. She left the salon after approximately 30 minutes of a 50-minute massage and drove to Fayetteville Police Department to file a complaint, Askew said.

Salon owner Isaac Scott said Stevens is no longer with the company.

"It is unfortunate to be in our 5th year and a situation that our spa does not condone has occurred,” Scott said, adding that he values his clients and their protection, but was confused since Stevens was paid for his services and was not stopped or told he was doing anything wrong.

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Submitted by jollibee on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 3:25am.

I totally agree.. they should have a camera for monitoring. This would serve as evidence if someone would file a complaint.

Massage Schools

Submitted by Davids mom on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 6:48am.

It might be wise to install monitoring equipment in the massage rooms. This would protect client and employee. Your establishment has offered an excellent service at a reasonable price for five years. Your employees have given excellent customer service - and this unfortunate incident should not ruin or diminish the salon's reputation.

Submitted by MacTheKnife on Sat, 01/03/2009 - 7:11pm.

"It is unfortunate to be in our 5th year and a situation that our spa does not condone has occurred,” Scott said, adding that he values his clients and their protection, but was confused since Stevens was paid for his services and was not stopped or told he was doing anything wrong.

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So, Mr. Scott, did you want the "client" to go to 'the management' and complain that she would not be paying since the Professional Masseuse was pleasuring himself at her expense? I'm no woman, but I could see why paying and leaving as quickly as possible and driving directly to the police station might be smarter than confronting the masseuse and the management after being assaulted.

You did manage to get in your sound bite that you are in your fifth year Mr. Scott; however, if you indeed acknowledge that "a situation has occurred that your spa does not condone" then why are you confused that the Masseuse " ... was not stopped or told he was doing anything wrong." Did you not know that "the woman alleged she had fallen asleep during the massage and had awakened to find the man assaulting her. She left the salon after approximately 30 minutes of a 50-minute massage"?

Wow. I accomplish some pretty amazing feats in my sleep Mr. Scott, but controlling those around me and disallowing inappropriate behavior are not among them. So, I assume it is with your clients. Maybe you are being a bit harsh on the lady. Don't you think she has been through enough by your failure to provide for her safety already?

By the way, do all of your "clients" leave after 30 min of a 50 min massage? Or did that cause you to wonder why she left with 40% of her paid massage yet to be rendered ... after all Mr. Scott, YOU were awake, right?

I am not sure that hiring a 21 year old male to rub on women in your place of business is really an intelligent decision by you sir. Is there a lawyer in the house?

Submitted by mysteryman on Sat, 01/03/2009 - 8:47pm.

Rather than was MR SCOTT, awake at the controls of his enterprise, when this incident occured, better yet was he even on site at the helm, of his establishment, since he was so concerned about his clients alleged saftey, guess no happy ending eh.. She should lawyer up , and take you for all you got holmes, cause bottom line its your name on the bussiness license right, therefore you are responsible for your not only your employees conduct, but also what occurs on your premises. ALSO you must have a loyal following, for people still to frequent your establishment in light of this incident, i wonder what credentials the rest of your staff has posted on the wall underneath your bussiness license gee i wonder, hint, hint... GOOD LUCK HOLMES....

Submitted by MYTMITE on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 1:03am.

It is not unusual to fall asleep during a massage. After all you are very relaxed--the reason for a massage is to relax tired or over-extended muscles. I have dozed many times during a massage. Maybe the woman did not report it to the owner because she may not have known what his reaction would be. Unless you are a woman and have had your body violated by someone you should have been able to trust you have no basis for your comment. Going to the police and making a report was probably the safest thing she thought she could do. Don't be so judgemental.

Submitted by dollaradayandno... on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 4:31am.

With the exception of a trainer removing a cramp in an athlete, all massages are violations of a body! Especially one of these hired opposite sex dudes! Or, same sex with special needs!

Unless there was an eye witness or a rape, how will this be proved?
Seems to me if one puts themselves in this position, you are taking your chances.

Submitted by mysteryman on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 7:39pm.

This is a catch 22 for the owner of the salon unfortunately, for it is his name that will get dragged through the mud, for not ascertaining the steps nessasary to prevent this in the first place, I think davids mom said it best, with the surveillence system monitoring each room. However lets look at he facts thus far, since a massage was being administered, of course the assailants D.N.A. is going to be all over her body, from the fact that his hands were in contact with the client during the massage.. Also was she claiming physical assault, or sexual assualt, big differnce here folks, for this would determine if a rape kit was administered to the alleged victim, to determine the extent and type of assault that allegedly occured.. It will be interesting to see this situation unfold. STAY TUNED....

Submitted by mysteryman on Sat, 01/03/2009 - 9:55pm.

Guilty until proven innocent, i thought you knew, please excuse the sarcasm in my post for it was only conjecture to stimulate food for thought, while i agree with you that this is the reason for all of us to pay inflated insurance rates, im sure legal council has already been retained in the matter, and yes it does sound fishy must not been much of a massage eh.. read bettween the lines, as i said at the end of my post before, GOOD LUCK MR SCOTT ENGAGE WARP DRIVE....P.S. YOU GOT ME I DO LIKE HUCKELBERRYS, COLLARDS, PIGS FEET, CHICKEN AND BEER...PEACE....

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