Citrus Heights police said Tuesday night that three separate SWAT raids conducted this morning resulted in three men being arrested for “numerous weapons violations.”
“Based on the evidence recovered at the locations,” a press release by Sergeant Mike Wells said 55-year-old Alphonso Harris, 29-year-old Mohammed Javed, and 67-year-old David Smith were arrested for alleged weapons violations, with Smith arrested for narcotics violations as well.
All three men were booked into the Sacramento County Jail.
The press release contained limited information, with police citing the ongoing nature of the investigation and stating “there is no further information at this time.”
The raids resulted in Auburn Boulevard being shut down around 8 a.m. Tuesday, with drivers and residents witnessing heavy police presence and SWAT team activity outside S&S Tire on Auburn Boulevard near Kanai Ave.
[Update: PD: Citrus Heights SWAT raids seized 20+ guns, drugs, $93k]
SWAT team members from the Citrus Heights Police Department armed with rifles, saws and other equipment were observed entering and exiting S&S Tire around 8 a.m., with CHPD’s recently acquired Mine Resistant Armor Protected (MRAP) military surplus vehicle parked outside.
By about 8:45 a.m., the SWAT team had packed up and left, the road re-opened and CHPD officers had left the scene, along with Sacramento Sheriff’s Department deputies who were observed to be assisting.
In an earlier statement on Tuesday, Wells said the Department’s Investigative Services Division “was involved in an active investigation into illegal weapons sales,” and was able to obtain search warrants for multiple locations within Citrus Heights — one of which was S&S Tire.
[See exclusive Sentinel video footage from this morning’s raid in prior story: BREAKING: heavy police activity, SWAT team at Auburn Blvd tire shop]
Wells said “due to the nature of the alleged violations,” CHPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) was used to execute the search warrants, and Folsom Police Department’s SWAT team and “support personnel from other local agencies also provided assistance.
