Man accused of touching massage customers inappropriately at Whitefish Bay business

WHITEFISH BAY -- A 36-year-old Milwaukee man faces multiple charges for allegedly touching massage customers inappropriately at Float Life in Whitefish Bay. Tremell Wright is charged with two counts of fourth degree sexual assault following the allegations, which were detailed in a criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, a Whitefish Bay police officer spoke with Wright's first victim on March 17. The woman told police Wright touched her inappropriately at Float Life during a massage. The woman told police the massage started normally, but that changed. Prosecutors said Wright allegedly was "grabbing and manipulating" the woman's bare chest and placing his hands "too close" to her private areas. During this episode, the complaint also indicated Wright said to the woman, "Your heart is racing." She responded, "That's because you're touching me like that."

"If something doesn't feel right to you, you are well within your rights to stop it," said Lt. Patrick Whitaker of the Whitefish Bay Police Department.

The victim said that she thought Wright would stop touching her inappropriately after she said something, but he did not, the complaint said. The woman noted she did not consent to Wright touching her inappropriately.

Following the first report, Whitefish Bay office spoke with one of the owners of Float Life, who identified Wright as the woman's masseuse. The owner told police that Wright's other appointments for the day had been canceled, and Wright was arrested on scene.

Two days later, the same owner spoke with police and reported that another complaint had been received against Wright for a massage he gave on March 8 to another woman. According to the complaint, the woman said her massage was in "no way appropriate" and the contacts "were not mistakes or accidental." The complaint also indicated this person told police she has had massages before and Wright wanted to "work on parts of the body that other masseurs don't." She said she caught Wright "peeking" around her towel at her almost nude body.

"I absolutely give credit to the women who came forward in this instance. Most likely, there are women who haven't come forward," Whitaker said.

In the last few days, Whitaker said others have come forward. Whitaker told FOX6 News Wright has a prior criminal history of battery and disorderly conduct.

"I think it's incumbent on the owner of the business to do background checks on their employees," Whitaker said.

Tyler Herman of Float Life issued the following statement on this case:

Wright was ordered to make his initial appearance in court on Monday, May 13.