HIDALGO – A Hidalgo City employee is facing a bribery charge in connection to a warehouse fire that took place in March.

The fire took place at a used clothing store called Anabel Ropa Usada in Hidalgo. CHANNEL 5 NEWS learned the store wasn’t required to have sprinklers because it was grandfathered into an old building code.

The affidavit states the business owners asked the building inspector, Francisco Martinez, if there was a way to get a permit for their new building without getting sprinklers.

According to the business owners, Martinez took $9,000 saying he could convince the city that the sprinkler system was not required.  

The business owners went to police when he asked for $3,500 more.

Watch the video above for more information.