By Tim Reeves and Jay Sowers

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Tactical assault teams, with the help of aerial support of a helicopter, conducted a series of search warrant and arrest warrant sweeps throughout Selma Wednesday night and Thursday.

Dozens of local, state and federal officers made up the force that conducted operations in at least five areas in Selma Thursday morning and one Wednesday evening. And, according to Selma Chief of Police William T. Riley, the force may not be done with their work.

“We are responding to a number of areas in Selma where we have had repeated problems, repeated calls from residents,” Riley said. “In some cases we are serving arrest warrants, while in other locations we are conducting searches.”

In one instance early Thursday, a team used the same door to enter a Broad Street apartment complex that was used just moments earlier by school children heading off to school. Minutes later, officers came out of the building with three suspects in handcuffs, each reportedly facing drug-related criminal charges.

In addition to multiple arrests, officers uncovered drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, drug paraphernalia, such as scales and bags, and at least one gun.

“The operation is still ongoing and there will be a lot of information we will not be able to release at this point,” Riley said.

Riley declined to release the number of individuals arrested during the Wednesday and Thursday operations, nor would he provide any details on the charges those arrested may face. Riley also declined to detail all the agencies partnering in the operation, saying only “there are multiple state and federal agencies helping.”

“We will be working through all the details over the coming days,” Riley said. “But, what I will say is that some of these suspects will face local, state and federal charges.”

Thursday evening, Riley said the operations had been very successful and that each of those participating in the searches and sweeps were safe.

“We were able to get through this without any problems, any injuries and that is tremendously important,” Riley said. “We will continue to put our focus on those areas in the city — and on those individuals — that continue to create problems for other residents and are set on breaking the law.”