Search warrant results in 6 arrests
BRIAN WALKER/bwalker@cdapress.com | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 8 months AGO
POST FALLS - A SWAT team served what police considered a "high-risk" search warrant Wednesday morning at a Post Falls home where there's been suspected drug activity.
The team responded with an armored vehicle at the mobile home at 2596 N. Bradley Drive northwest of the intersection of Spokane Street and Poleline Avenue around 8:45 a.m.
"The SWAT team rolled in front of the house and announced over a loudspeaker," said Post Falls Police Capt. Pat Knight, a member of the SWAT team. "All of the occupants inside complied and came out. One of the comments made to us was that one of the individuals would have a shootout with officers if need be. That's the reason why we took precautions."
FBI spokesman Todd Palmer said six people were arrested. The FBI is one of the agencies represented on the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force, which investigated the home after the search warrant was served.
Palmer declined to release the names of the suspects or other specific information about them, citing the ongoing investigation, that they hadn't been formally charged and Department of Justice policy. He also declined to release further information about the case, including what the pending charges are.
Post Falls Police referred questions about details on the case to the FBI.
The NIVCTF spent about three hours investigating the home and processing evidence after the search warrant was served.
"This was very well-organized by (the NIVCTF) and our agency on a high-risk search warrant," Post Falls police Chief Scot Haug said. "It was successful because there were no injuries."
Haug said he had been approached by neighbors in recent days complaining about the activity at the home.
"I was patrolling up there the Saturday before last and a neighbor came out and expressed concern," he said.
Knight added: "The residents up there were happy to see us. They want to see the place cleaned up."
Four males and two females inside the home were arrested.
Last month, on an unrelated case, fugitive Jared Fausett, 24, Coeur d'Alene, was arrested at the home after he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint and barricaded himself inside for more than five hours. He was arrested for three counts of probation violation and one count of fugitive from justice.
The other occupant in the home, Melanie Moralez, 27, Post Falls, was arrested on warrants for shoplifting, criminal contempt, injury to a child, possession of a controlled substance, concealing evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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