– Police Raid Gun and Safe Store (8NewsNow, Aug 20, 2011):
LAS VEGAS — The U.S. Air Force led a rare raid against a Las Vegas gun shop Friday afternoon. Investigators removed pieces of evidence and took several people into custody.
The initial raid lasted less than an hour.
“These guys were in full get-up, automatic weapons,” said Bahama Mamas manager Joe Gold.
Armored SWAT tanks, officers carrying machine guns, K-9s, the FBI, ATF, and the U.S. Air Force made a grand entrance at the business park on Dean Martin Drive near Flamingo Road.
Heavy on action and light on information, investigators remained tight-lipped about the warrants served at the Citadel Gun and Safe store and an unoccupied building behind it.
“I was just trying to get to my car, because I thought it was going to get taken away, because you know it was in the way,” Bahama Mamas worker Rai Reed.
“We were just watching what was going on. Nobody has any idea. I know the gun store, but I’ve never seen anything in there,” Gold said.
While Citadel owner John Call and other people were taken into custody at the store, a warrant was also being issued at Call’s house in northwest Las Vegas.
Neighbors and businesses speculated at what prompted this unusual raid.
“I don’t know. I have no idea,” Gold said.
“All we can do is assume. It’s a gun shop, and this place over here – it could be drugs. It could be anything,” Reed said.
A public information officer with the U.S. Air Force tells CNN authorities retrieved stolen property from an Air Force base at the store. No explosives or weapons were among the stolen items.
The public information officer tells CNN authorities have interviewed the store owner, and he is being cooperative. They are also searching for a second person.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada is working with the Air Force on this investigation.
Must have also had a house of ill repute.