Reacting to neighbor's concerns about suspicious activity at a Canfield home, police raided a home near Main Street that was allegedly being used for prostitution.
Officers arrested two women on Friday who they say were placing advertisements in the escort section of an online classified website offering an “exotic beauty now available in Canfield.”
One officer recognized a room pictured in the ad as one inside the Hood Drive home of 34-year-old Leah Petruzzi. The officer said he had been called to the home before to conduct police investigations.
Police also learned that Petruzzi and 31-year-old Shanika Simmons had been arrested for prostitution in Liberty Township just two days before.
Using an undercover officer, police called the number in the ad to set up an appointment. He was quoted prices of $125 for a half hour and $175 for an hour.
The undercover officer was directed to the address at 31 Hood Drive where he says he was greeted at the door by Petruzzi.
After a short discussion, police say that Petruzzi agreed to a price of $200 for a sex act.
Canfield police and members of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force knocked on the door. When no one answered, they forced their way into the home where they found also found Simmons and another man in one of the rooms.
Petruzzi told officers that the undercover officer would have been her first appointment of the day. She claimed that Simmons would set up her appointments and keep $50 for every $175 that Petruzzi earned.
Simmons told police that she was merely sitting in the other room and had no knowledge of what occurred.
The two women were arrested. The man found at the home as not been charged.
Petruzzi is charged with soliciting and promoting prostitution. Police say she has a lengthy criminal history which includes several drug and theft charges.
Simmons faces a charge of promoting prostitution. Investigators say that in addition to the recent charge filed in Liberty, she was charged with promoting prostitution in Boardman last year.
Both woman are scheduled to answer the charges in court on Wednesday.
Police say confiscated a computer and cell phones at the home for evidence.