— An investigation into eight alleged illicit massage parlors is drawing renewed attention after new details emerged, including a charge against a Roanoke Police Department animal warden who once ran for City Council on a public safety platform.
Investigators served search warrants on October 12 at eight businesses across Roanoke County: three on Williamson Road, three on Brambleton Avenue, one on Electric Road and one on Peters Creek Road.
Authorities also executed a search warrant at a home in Daleville, where police say several items connected to the investigation were seized.
Among those charged is Dalton Baugess, who ran for Roanoke City Council in 2022 on a public safety platform. Baugess currently works as an animal warden for the Roanoke Police Department.
RPD confirmed that Baugess has been placed on administrative leave. He faces a misdemeanor charge of frequenting a bawdy place.
The charge is part of a broader investigation involving the eight businesses. The allegations against the establishments and the criminal case against Baugess are matters for the courts to resolve.
For someone whose previous campaign focused on public safety, the charge adds an unexpected development to Baugess' public record. However, a charge is not a conviction, and the case must proceed through the judicial system.
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Source note: Star News TV · Oct 16, 2026 1:26 PM.