Residents on Welters Way were awakened shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday to see the Eden Prairie Police Department (EPPD) SWAT team forming up in silence in front of a home on Welters Way in the Olympic Hills neighborhood. The SWAT team was silent and stealthy but clearly prepared for action. They were fully equipped with weapons, tactical gear and shields.
The team proceeded up the street to a home on the 11600 block of Welters Way. They surrounded the home, shouted that they had a search warrant and entered the home. It appeared the SWAT team was able to secure the home quickly and without incident.
An Olympic Hills resident, who asked not to be identified, had a brief conversation with Eden Prairie Police Chief Matt Sackett who was on the scene. Chief Sackett told the resident that there was no need for concern and that Eden Prairie police were securing the home to assist a federal law enforcement agency in serving a search warrant. Federal agents were gathered at the fire station located at 12100 Sunnybrook Road, waiting for Eden Prairie police to secure the home, according to the source.
Several more people entered the home and appeared to still be there at mid afternoon. Residents told EPLN that the home’s residents left earlier in the morning.
An EPPD spokesperson told EPLN that the agency serving the search warrant was the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Postal Inspection Service spokesperson Rachel Williams confirmed that her agency was involved in the morning raid and that it is related to an investigation to which significant resources are being applied.
Williams declined further comment citing an ongoing criminal investigation.
The United States Postal Inspection Service has a broad range of responsibilities and are involved in the enforcement of many federal laws, including illegal narcotics, identity theft, mail fraud, money laundering, cybercrime and child exploitation.
Editor’s Note: Contributor Frank Farrell is a member of the EPLN Board of Directors and lives on Welters Way. He witnessed some of the events reported in this story.
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