Some students say officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office raided an apartment Wednesday afternoon at Burbank Commons. Joseph Cadwell, mass communication sophomore, witnessed the raid. He said he saw four officers dressed in flak jackets and helmets – one carrying a battering ram, one holding a rifle and two holding shotguns – break down the apartment door. One of the men who lives in the raided apartment said an anonymous tip led the officers to their door. He said one of the officers yelled, “Get down on the ground! We have a search warrant!” The anonymous source said the police officers showed them a search warrant but did not explain why they were searching the place. The Criminal Records Office at the Clerk of Courts did not have a copy of the search warrant on file. Cadwell said he saw one of the police officers throw a flash grenade over the balcony. Josh Burkhardt, business freshman and eyewitness, said he heard a loud noise while he was in his apartment. When he walked out of the door, he saw several police officers on the ground carrying shotguns, he said. Burkhardt said he heard one of the officers say, “It smells like weed, but I don’t know where it is.” The anonymous source said the police officers searched the apartment but did not find what they were looking for. Witnesses said they heard the raid occurred because the apartment’s residents were growing and selling marijuana. The anonymous source said the rumors about growing and selling marijuana were untrue. Sgt. Don Kelly, BRPD spokesman, said he does not have any information regarding the police raid. Richard Strope, physics junior and eyewitness, said he was also alarmed by a loud explosion. Strope said he saw numerous police officers in full SWAT gear carrying shotguns. Col. Ricky Adams of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said his department assisted BRPD but was not the agency that executed the search warrant. No one was arrested, the anonymous source said.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]