Law enforcement conducts ‘warrant sweep’ across Columbia Thursday morning
By: Lucas Geisler, Alison Patton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -- Federal and local police conducted a "warrant sweep" across Columbia on Thursday morning for those wanted for various federal crimes.
Dixon Land, the FBI field office spokesman in Kansas City, told ABC 17 News that agents worked with state and local police on Thursday to arrest those wanted on felony warrants. ABC 17 News saw the FBI and Columbia police working at the Colonial Village Trailer Court on Range Line Street early Thursday morning.
"We can inform you that today’s activities are a combined local, state, and federal warrant sweep for individuals wanted on felony warrants to include firearm-related offenses," Land told ABC 17 News. "Additionally, none of this enforcement activity is related to civil immigration violations."
An ABC 17 News reporter saw law enforcement at the trailer court on Range Line Street just before 7 a.m. An FBI agent there deferred comment to the FBI's media office in Kansas City.
The Columbia Police Department and the United States Attorney's Office responded to ABC 17 News with the same statement given by Land.
The sweep comes two days after a federal grand jury indicted 10 people in Mid-Missouri for drug and gun crimes. The indictments stem from cases out of Boone, Cole and Cooper counties. Federal court records show at least one of them, Damon L. Thompson, was arrested for his warrant on Thursday.
Neighbors surrounding the mobile home near Range Line Street told an ABC 17 News reporter Thursday afternoon that law enforcement used five "flash bangs" to draw a man out of his home.
"I was so scared, I was shaking," Margaret Evans, a nearby neighbor, said. "The only time I ever saw anything like this was on Law and Order."
Evans said the law enforcement told the man inside to come out with his hands up, and when he didn't, they threw a flash bang in.
"He still wouldn't come out and still wouldn't come out, and so they did four more flash bangs," Evans said.
Evans said the man was arrested about 45 minutes to an hour after law enforcement arrived, and once he was detained, agents searched the mobile home.
City and University of Missouri leaders have considered tapping federal resources as a way to combat crime in response to the killing of Aiyanna Williams downtown. In a Sept. 30 email previously obtained by ABC 17 News, U.S. Attorney Matthew Price told MU chancellor Mun Choi and others he would be "keen to meet" with them on what help the office can provide.
"The federal government has several prosecutive resources and tools at its disposal to assist you in tackling this emerging crisis," Price said in the email.
