Executive Summary
- Sanford Police executed a search warrant at Suite 5, 1328 Main Street, following intel on sex trafficking.
- Investigators located victims of trafficking at the scene and provided them with protective services.
- The unit was declared “Unfit for human occupancy” by city officials and shut down.
- Neighboring business owners reported observing “red flags” and suspicious activity prior to the raid.
SANFORD, Maine – Sanford Police executed a search warrant at a commercial business on Main Street on Thursday afternoon, acting on corroborated information regarding alleged sex trafficking operations. The operation resulted in the identification of trafficking victims and the immediate closure of the establishment by city officials.
According to Sanford Police Major Mark Dyer, officers searched Suite 5 of 1328 Main Street shortly after 4 p.m. The location had been operating with a sign displayed as “Spa.” While authorities released limited details regarding the specifics of the allegations to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, Major Dyer confirmed that investigators located victims of sex trafficking inside the premises.
“The victims of trafficking were offered services,” Dyer stated. “Due to the ongoing danger posed to these victims, we will not disclose their identity or the outcome of the services offered.” No arrests were immediately announced at the scene, though the investigation remains active.
By Friday, the unit was closed to the public. A municipal notice affixed to the door declared the property “Uninhabitable” and “Unfit for human occupancy or use,” effectively shuttering the operation.
The building at 1328 Main Street houses several legitimate businesses, including a barber shop, a print shop, and a licensed skin care spa. Business owners in the plaza expressed concern over the allegations and relief at the police intervention. Craig Grant, owner of the neighboring barber shop, noted the potential negative impact on the location’s reputation. Similarly, Katrina Wiggin of Copy Kat’s stated she had observed suspicious activity. “I saw people coming in and out of there enough, definitely red flags all around,” Wiggin said.
Samantha Morrill, owner of Savasana Skin Care, a legitimate spa in the same building, voiced concern that potential clients might mistake her business for the one under investigation. “I’m hoping that people that know of that place… are not going to come in here looking for those [services],” she said.
It is important to note that while the premises have been deemed uninhabitable and an investigation is underway, no specific individuals have been charged in court as of this report. All potential subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigative Outlook
The decision to utilize municipal code enforcement to declare the property “uninhabitable” suggests a tactical approach by law enforcement to immediately disrupt the operation while criminal evidence is processed. In complex sex trafficking cases, the immediate priority is often the extraction and stabilization of victims, as indicated by Major Dyer’s focus on the services provided. The raid highlights the persistent challenge of illicit operations masking themselves within legitimate commercial zones, relying on the cover of standard business hours to conduct trafficking activities.
