Riverhead Town police arrested a Maple Avenue resident on Sunday and charged him with operating an alleged house of prostitution.
According to Riverhead Town police, a call was received at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday that a woman was possibly being held against her will and forced into prostitution at a house located at 320 Maple Avenue in Riverhead.
Police said that after arriving at the residence, several subjects were detained. Several subjects allegedly fled the scene on foot; another individual, who was found in the area operating a vehicle, was allegedly directly involved, according to a witness.
The operator of the vehicle, Adrian Figueroa, 43, of 320 Maple Avenue, was transported to Riverhead Town police headquarters for questioning. He was later placed under arrest after police said it was determined he was the person controlling the prostitution business out of the residence. Figueroa was processed and held overnight until he could be arraigned on charges of promoting prostitution in the third degree.
Further investigation revealed that the home was being used as a "house of prostitution," police said; the two women found inside were allegedly determined to be there of their own free will.
