ATMORE, Ala. — Local, state and federal investigators were serving warrants Wednesday morning and conducting raids on homes in Brewton, Atmore and Cantonment.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The FBI lent a hand, but says its involvement was just to offer specialized assistance.
Many of the residents WEAR News talked to told me as soon as they woke up, they saw helicopters circling and law enforcement agencies from all over.
For Atmore resident Kandace Ballard, she thought it was a typical morning dropping her son off at daycare.
“I saw three unmarked vehicles parked by the restaurant next door and I knew something was going on but I didn’t think too much of it,” Ballard said.
Moments later that changed.
“As I was dropping him off, like right as the door shut behind me, that’s when APD had rolled in, along with their armored SRT truck and other officials, they all rolled in,” Ballard said. “And like any other parent, I was initially panicked because I didn’t know if they were surrounding my son’s daycare or what.”
Ballard has lived in Atmore for about three years. She says she’s seen scenes like this on the news, but this was the first time in person.
“Thankfully, an officer approached us and he let us know that the daycare was fine, the children were safe and that they were setting up for a raid that wasn’t directly around the daycare vicinity but just nearby in the area,” Ballard said. “So definitely, it gave me some relief but I was anxious nonetheless.”
This was just one report. Neighbors in Brewton say a similar scene played out there.
They didn’t want to go on camera, but shared what they saw had them concerned.
WEAR News reached out to the DEA and were told that the New Orleans Field Division of the DEA was conducting multiple search warrants across Baldwin and Escambia counties in Alabama and Florida.
The DEA would not specify how many areas were raided. No other details were released.
“I’m glad to see agencies doing the jobs that they’re tasked with and taking steps to address the illegal activity in our community,” said Ballard. “I mean. I think a safer community kinda benefits all of us, so you know I hope that these efforts are carried out fairly, professionally and, you know, just with respect for everyone involved really.”
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida confirmed the agency assisted the DEA in two searches near the Cantonment area Wednesday morning.