A massage parlor in Longmeadow is one of six Pioneer Valley shops shut down after police discovered it was a house of prostitution. The owner is now under arrest.

Massage beds and neck pillows filled the bed of a Longmeadow Police truck which was hauling away evidence removed from Chinese Massage in the Maple Street Plaza in Longmeadow. Police gathered the evidence while executing a search warrant.

Officers said the owner, Xiuli Li, has been the keeper of a house of prostitution at both the Longmeadow parlor and another parlor off Belmont Street in Springfield.

These shops and four others were raided in Chicopee, West Springfield, East Longmeadow and Hadley.

Longmeadow Police Officer Lt. Gary Fontaine said, "We've learned that other towns within the commonwealth have had similar instances. Some of them are connected and some of them are not. Some are just unlicensed and others have similar issues that we're dealing with here in this jurisdiction."

Some residents in the neighborhood were surprised.

"I can't even believe it was occurring. It's pretty shocking," Longmeadow resident Darcy Durfee said.

Others said it was only a matter of time before people caught on.

"Everyone around here seemed to know about it and just turned their head the other way. Different employees around here have all known about it and all the plazas around this area," Longmeadow resident Derek Nolan said.

Police said that several of the Longmeadow shops employees may be illegal immigrants. Some residents say they are glad it is shutdown.

"It's pretty troublesome with the couple break ins we just had on Longmeadow Street," Durfee said.

"Longmeadow has a reputation of being a nice town and people are going to be seeing this and thinking twice about it. There are tons of kids here and plenty of schools so it's definitely not something you want to have around your kids," Nolan said,

Xiuli Li is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.