HUBBARD, Ohio - Newly surfaced police body camera footage shows Trumbull County Commissioner Rick Hernandez bringing the owner of a shuttered Hubbard spa, now at the center of a human trafficking investigation, to police to make her case for reopening. 

In the February 2025 video, recorded days after the first raid at 3C Foot Spa, Hernandez acknowledged for the first time that prostitution likely took place there, but insists the tenant who operated the business, Furong Li, was unaware of it.

Police are heard directly challenging that claim.

“They were doing prostitution out there. They were trading money for sex. And that’s a fact,” one officer tells Hernandez.

At another point, Hernandez concedes, “Well, that’s the fact,” but continues to defend Li, saying, “I've gotta think she has no involvement with anything.”

Hernandez said he trusts her but would shut the building down if necessary, adding, "I'm trying to help her out because I really truthfully believe that she is telling me the truth. Now, like I said, if there are other people coming out of there, if that happens, no, we're going to have to have a discussion and she's going to have to know this is going on."

When pressed by officers on how he could be so sure that nothing is going on, Hernandez said that's his "assessment" based on her "demeanor," but when questioned about his relationship with her, he said, “All that I have with her is collect rent. That’s it. She’s my tenant.”

Police pushed back, citing evidence found during the raid, including a "condom and robe in the massage room," and pointing to escort ads linked to the business.

Officers also questioned Hernandez’s involvement in publicly backing the spa and Hernandez admitted politics played a role.

“When you’re running for office and I’m the only one implicated, I’m gonna end up defending myself,” Hernandez said in the video.

Li has since been indicted on felony prostitution charges.

Hernandez said he will not comment further until the court case concludes, noting he and his attorney have already addressed the matter.