Officers Shot at During Human Trafficking Investigation

Staff Writer
4:07 PM EDT, May 8, 2010




GREENSBORO, N.C. - Guilford County sheriff's deputies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were shot at Friday night while searching a Greensboro home where they believe a human trafficking victim was being held.

Guilford County sheriff's deputies were conducting a search with ICE officers at 700 N. English St. in Greensboro around 11 p.m. Friday when they say a man fired two shots at them. Deputies returned fire, but no one was injured.

"It was like three different trucks full of cops. Then some more trucks started coming and everybody just started jumping out." said Tavonte Martin, who lives three homes away from where the shootout happened.

Col. Randy Powers with the Guilford County Sheriff's Office says they had received information that the homeowners were allegedly running a brothel, which led to their search.

"It's a case that does travel underground a lot and we don't get a chance to measure it. We know that there is some of it going on." Col. Powers said.

While searching the residence and conducting multiple interviews, deputies found a juvenile in the house they say was a victim of human trafficking. Deputies say she was removed from the home and is working with ICE through the investigation.

Deputies identified the shooter as Reyna Isabel-Reyes Caballero, 37, and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Detectives are also looking at charging Caballero with human trafficking law violations at the state level.

Col. Powers says Caballero, from Honduras, and three others in the house are illegal immigrants. Caballero is being held in the Guilford County Jail under a $250,000 bond, but ICE officials are detaining him there while the investigation continues.

http://www.myfox8.com/news/local/wghp-o ... 5864.story