Earlier this month, a woman was charged with solicitation and promoting prostitution following a raid at a Hubbard foot spa.

The building's landlord is Trumbull commissioner Rick Hernandez, who has repeatedly said that the investigation was "politically motivated."

Now, newly obtained police body camera video shows that despite these public statements, Hernandez was informed of what investigators had found as early as last August.

In this 21 News Watchdog Report, a body cam video obtained by 21 News from August 7, 2024, shows police informing Trumbull Commissioner Rick Hernandez there was illegal activity at 3C Foot Spa, which leased space in Hernandez's building, and urging him to take action against the tenant.

The body cam footage shows police talking with Hernandez, telling him, "I mean, there's prostitution running out of there; that's a fact."

Hernandez responded, "Is it?"

Police: "Well, you don't get a search warrant without probable cause. I had a search warrant. We've had undercover in there. They're getting solicited."

Police: "Really, the best person in position to stop it in the city of Hubbard is you."

Police: "I just want to make sure that you're clear what is going on out there... there was undercover in there, they're soliciting people parking across the street."

Hernandez: "I heard that, I heard that."

Police: "That's not normal."

Hernandez: "I did question her on that, and her answer was I can’t help where they park."

Police: "Well, that is called a clue.  I mean, 10,000 people in our community are suspicious that..."

Police also informed Hernandez that people were living in the commercial building illegally.

But more than a month later on September 26, 2024, Hernandez appeared on 21 News at 5, denying any knowledge of illegal activity and defending the business.

Hernandez: "There’s nothing there, and there was never anything there... They mention my name only. Why? It's probably because I’m running for county commissioner, which has no bearing, and that building will be back in business."

Just two days before speaking with police, Hernandez made this promise during a Facebook Live broadcast: "If I had any reason to believe there was any wrongdoing or any illegal activity going on at that location, I would evict those tenants immediately."

Hernandez declined an on-camera interview but still raised questions about what evidence police found. He said his attorney has advised him that there could be cases where someone lives in a commercial building. However, he declined to name the attorney he was speaking to.

Former Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko, who has had a back-and-forth posting regarding the allegations on social media with Hernandez after he defeated her in the November election, sent 21 News the following statement:

"Citizens trusted me to fight human trafficking in Trumbull County. I have been sharing every bit of evidence with the task force for over a year. I preserved information Hernandez had deleted, and will continue to give them what is relevant to stop sex trafficking crimes in my community. Only the lowest of the low would facilitate and conceal crimes of this nature for personal gain. If Rick wants to blame me for the raids on his illegal massage parlor— I accept that as a badge of honor. But the real credit goes to Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and the Hubbard Police Department,” Frenchko stated.