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A Shell gas station at Tudor Road and Arctic Boulevard displayed a closed sign Wednesday, after Channel 2 viewers said it was visited by numerous law-enforcement officers. Federal officials say search warrants were executed at locations in Anchorage and Chugiak Wednesday as part of "a joint federal-state-local investigation." (Phil Walczak/KTUU-TV / October 10, 2012) |
Law enforcement officers visited numerous locations in the Anchorage area Wednesday to execute search warrants during a joint investigation, apparently closing some businesses in the process, but details were unclear about the investigation’s extent or target.
Anchorage Police Department spokesperson Lt. Dave Parker said APD officers were conducting agency-assistance duties Wednesday to back up what he described as a “federal operation.” Parker said he hadn’t been briefed on the operation, however, and directed detailed questions to federal officials.
Kevin Feldis, with the criminal division of U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler’s office, confirmed that search warrants were being executed at several locations in Anchorage and Chugiak as part of “a joint federal-state-local investigation.” While the warrants remained under seal and Feldis couldn’t divulge details of the case, he did say that the day’s activities posed no danger to the public.
Channel 2 viewers reported heavy police presence at locations including a Shell gas station on Tudor Road and Arctic Boulevard, a convenience store on Bragaw Street near its intersection with DeBarr Road, Party Time Plaza Liquors at 5520 Lake Otis Parkway, and an Up in Smoke shop in Eagle River.
The Shell station at Tudor and Arctic displayed a sign saying it was closed for the day, and a viewer told Channel 2 APD officers were turning away customers at the convenience store on Bragaw.
Feldis said it may be “some time” before any details publicly emerge on the nature of the investigation.
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