Law enforcement conducts ‘warrant sweep’ across Columbia
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.
Earlier in the day, about seven law enforcement officers from two agencies were seen on Godas Circle in northeast Columbia and surrounded a home.
Police were apparently trying to serve a warrant for a man wanted for an alleged St. Louis crime, but that man did not live at the home. A neighbor alleged the man police were looking for had not lived in the home for at least a year.
The tense scene lasted more than 10 minutes, with the resident providing officers with his personal information. The scene ended with the resident asking for ID information from police, which officers provided.
City and University of Missouri leaders have considered tapping federal resources as a way to combat crime in response to the killing 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.
In federal court
Law enforcement has not confirmed the names of those arrested on Thursday, but several federal court documents regarding gun crimes were unsealed Thursday.
ABC 17 News saw seven people appear Thursday in federal court in Jefferson City. Three of the defendants — Tyrone Sabb, Thomas Abbey Jr. and Justin Shelton -- are charged with illegal gun possession and were named in newly unsealed federal court documents. Prosecutors say all three men are connected with an alleged stolen-gun ring linked to incidents between March 17-20.
Sabb and Shelton pleaded not guilty. Both have trial dates set for Jan. 5 and were released on conditions after their hearings.
Prosecutors requested Abbey be detained, citing what they described as “strong evidence” in his case and arguing that his possession of a firearm poses an inherent danger.
The four other defendants were Damon Thompson, Paul Johnson, James Hanton and Paul Arnall, all of which were charged with illegal gun possession. The government has also requested that all four be detained.
