Peeping Tom leads police to brothel
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH - - City police discovered a brothel operating out of a Chelsea Avenue house last week after a man was observed peering into the windows of the residence.

According to police department, on Sept. 22 Police Officer Hector Umana was on patrol in the area of Chelsea Avenue when he observed a man on the porch of a home peeking into the windows.

Umana approached the man to investigate and the man, identified as Casimiro Salazar Zuniga, 29, of Asbury Park, stated that he was visiting a friend at the home, but could not provide a name or description of the friend, according to police.

Umana then knocked on the door of the home and spoke with a man who gave a fictitious name and also told police he was visiting a friend. He was later identified as 33-year-old Ernesto Aragon Martinez of Chelsea Avenue.

Police located two women inside the apartment, which was only furnished with mattresses on the bedroom floors and a couch in the entrance of the home, police said.

Prostitution paraphernalia was also uncovered and it was learned that the couch acted as a waiting area for customers, police said.

Zuniga was arrested and charged with loitering with the purpose to engage in prostitution, and was later released on a summons, according to police.

Martinez was arrested and charged with promoting prostitution, maintaining a house of prostitution and hindering apprehension. His bail was set at $15,000 with no 10 percent option.

Also arrested were two females, Sergia Santana Ortiz, 32, and Nicole Martinez, 45, both of Queens, N.Y. They were both charged with engaging in prostitution and were later released on summonses, according to police.