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Dundee waterpark under investigation for alleged labor trafficking

In a police report, an employee claimed a manager and the park's owner's son had gone to Chicago to find workers.

DUNDEE, Mich. — Dundee police and multiple other agencies, including federal law enforcement, are investigating allegations of labor trafficking at Dundee waterpark Splash Universe in early September.

According to a report by Dundee police, officers responded to Splash Universe regarding a disturbance on Sept. 7, just before 7 p.m. Dispatchers told police a manager had been struck during a fight between two people at the location.

Police spoke with the manager at the hotel, who said an employee had thrown a phone at him, then picked up a knife. The manager told police he did not need medical attention.

The officer spoke with several people at the location, all of whom did not speak English. The officer then contacted a Michigan State Police trooper to receive a phone call from a Spanish translator. At that point, an MSP trooper arrived on scene for assistance and to speak to the manager about the alleged assault.

Employee claims

The officer spoke with one of the employees at the waterpark, who, according to the report, told the translator she was an undocumented immigrant who was brought to the waterpark by the manager. She said she was told she would receive $90 per day for working at the hotel, as well as room and board.

The employee told authorities she had been working for nine days and had not yet received any payment. The employee alleged the lack of payment led to the argument with the manager, but she said she did not assault the manager and did not have any knives in her possession. Other employees allegedly told the officer the first employee had thrown a phone at the manager, but the knife involved was plastic.

Another employee used Google Translate to tell the officer she was pregnant and had not eaten in two days. This employee also corroborated the claim the manager had promised the employees $90 per day and said they were only going to be paid $5 per hour.

The manager's claims

In the report, the officer interviewed the manager, who said he did not want to pursue battery charges against the employee who had allegedly thrown a phone at him. The officer asked the manager to provide documentation of the employees, and while the manager said he had documentation to prove the employees' right to work, he could not provide it.

In a verbal statement given to WTOL 11 on Thursday, Splash Universe management said "everybody who works here is fully documented, completely authorized, they have socials and work authorization."

The manager then alleged the employees were from a shelter in Chicago, and he had picked them up there. He claimed he promised to pay the employees $90 per day, and then denied saying he would pay them anything differently.

He said he had told three employees they were fired. The officer asked the manager if he could pay the employees for the days they had worked, and he agreed.

Allegations of trafficking from Chicago to Dundee

Police made contact with a social worker for the Chicago shelter from which the employees were picked up. The social worker told police that, several weeks prior, a large group of the residents were picked up. The social worker said her coworker described it as an "extremely weird situation," which they recorded on their phone.

The social worker claimed to police all the workers were immigrants who were residing in the US illegally. The employees at the hotel had no family in Michigan and one of them was 8 months pregnant. The officer said he would arrange to have the pregnant employee taken to the hospital after she said wanted to go.

Each of the three employees who were initially fired were paid $450 in cash by the manager. The front desk clerk told police that the manager and "one of the owner's sons" had gone to Chicago to find workers to bring to the waterpark. The clerk claimed park leadership had chartered two buses to bring the group to Dundee.

RELATED: New Ohio human trafficking hotline coming soon

The clerk also told police the employees were concerned about the safety of the water at the hotel and did not drink any water for the first three days.

The clerk communicated with the employees regarding the payment they would receive. Using Google Translate, the employees communicated they were confused as to why they were only being paid for five days in total instead of the nine they had worked. The clerk told the employees the manager had only authorized five days' worth of pay, but would follow up later with the remaining pay.

While the officer arranged to take the three to the hospital, police came into contact again with the social worker, who said the employees wanted to go back to Chicago, including the pregnant employee. The officer purchased the three fast food meals, then took them to the Toledo Greyhound/Amtrak station. The social worker arranged to have the tickets purchased, transporting the employees back to Chicago.

Labor trafficking investigation

During the course of the investigation, the officer spoke with an ICE agent, who said he would communicate with Homeland Security regarding the alleged labor trafficking.

The social worker also told police she was concerned about the immigrants remaining at Splash Universe, and said she would be happy to assist in any investigation.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were slated to follow up on the issues at the waterpark, according to the report.

It is unknown if any formal charges have been filed yet.

History of the Splash Universe waterpark

Splash Universe waterpark, located in southeast Michigan, reopened in 2024 after a harried history of closures.

Eleven people were injured at the property when a tornado also ripped the roof off an adjoining hotel in June 2010. It reopened the following year. Then, Splash Universe shut down as the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020.

EARLIER COVERAGE: Four years after closing, Splash Universe announces reopening date

Under the new ownership of brothers Jacob and Joseph Garmo, the wet wonderland was being prepared to reopen in the fall of 2022. It did not officially reopen until April 2024.

To report human trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline 24/7 at 888-373-7888 or text INFO to 233733. Support is available in English and in Spanish.

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