The streets of Bellevue's Factoria neighborhood are reeling from news of a 31-year-old man arrested last week for allegedly trafficking a 21-year-old woman, the Bellevue Police Department stated. According to KOMO News, the suspect, identified as Cedric A. Dorsey, has sparked an outcry over the pernicious issue of sex trafficking within seemingly quiet communities.

The month-long inquiry sprang from a domestic violence call received in early April, wherein construction workers assisted the victim's escape from an apartment where she faced dire circumstances. Bellevue police spotted "several red flag indicators of sex trafficking," which they later confirmed with the victim, as reported by KOMO News. Dorsey, who has a history of prior arrests, was deemed high-risk and believed to harbor weapons at his residence.

On May 2, arms at the ready, Bellevue officers alongside a SWAT team descended on Dorsey's 124th Avenue Southeast dwelling. After Dorsey balked at complying, a crisis response team ensued negotiations through his mother, eventually coaxing him to surrender peacefully. An hour's standoff culminated with Dorsey admitting defeat, and exiting his apartment to meet the arms of the law.

Dorsey now faces charges of second-degree trafficking, first-degree prostitution promotion, and unlawful possession of a firearm. "From the Bellevue PD Officers quickly spotting the red flags associated with sex trafficking to the work of the Department’s Human Trafficking Unit, this collaborative operation was truly a textbook example on how to hold an individual accountable for conducting a horrible sex crime on another person," Assistant Chief Andrew Popochock expressed, in a statement obtained by FOX 13 Seattle. He continued, "Sex trafficking is a crime and unfortunately does, happen in communities like Bellevue. That’s why we’re asking the public that if they believe someone may be a victim in a sex trafficking operation to immediately call law enforcement so that we can hold these criminals accountable and save lives in the process."

Authorities continue to urge residents to remain vigilant and report any hints of such nefarious activities to law enforcement.