BURLINGTON, N.C. -- Burlington Police say a possible human trafficking case is connected to a deadly officer-involved shooting that happened last month.
Assistant Chief Brian Long with Burlington Police Department said that during the July 23 incident at a home on Dorsett Street, officers noticed elements of human trafficking. Long could not be specific with what those elements were, citing the ongoing investigation.
During the incident, Rosalio Hernandez Ortega was shot by officers after he refused to drop a machete as he walked toward officers. The officers tried to use a taser on him, which did not work. Ortega was still not compliant and was subsequently shot by the officers. He died at the scene.
Investigators believe Ortega was an employee at Hibachi Buffet located at Holly Hill Mall. On Thursday, ALE, Burlington Police, and Homeland Security officials executed a search warrant of the restaurant.
Friday, a spokesperson for Homeland Security confirmed that one person, a management staff, was arrested on state criminal charges. The spokesperson said the investigation continues and there are possibilities for federal charges to be filed against the unnamed individual.
Long says the owner of the home on Dorsett Street where Ortega was staying is also the owner of the Hibachi Buffet.
A neighbor said she saw several groups of people going in and out of the house in vans on multiple occasions. She also said a picket fence built on the porch to hide many shoes at the entrance of the house was something she found odd. She added that she thought the house may have been a boarding house but didn't think there would be a connection to human trafficking.
A spokesperson for ALE says the case does not involve children, but possibly employees of the Hibachi restaurant.
This is a developing story. Keep checking back for updates.
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