Redwood City Raid By DHS, DEA Ends After 9+ Hours [UPDATED]

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Federal officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the DEA descended on a Redwood City neighborhood Friday, leading to a day-long closure in the area. Whipple Avenue was closed in both directions between El Camino Real and Duane Street from approximately 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

"Special agents with Homeland Security investigations and the DEA are executing a federal search warrant in relation to a criminal investigation," James Schwab, the ICE Spokesman on the scene, told Patch via telephone Friday morning. Schwab said that investigators searched just one home on the street, in the 1300 block of Whipple Avenue. Investigators arrived around 8 a.m., he said.

Aerial footage from the scene showed a San Mateo County Hazmat team on the street. Schwab said that team was there out of an abundance of caution.

"It's just a precautionary measure, there's no danger to the public at all," he said. "It is an active ongoing investigation so we can't release more [details] at this time."

By the end of the day, Schwab said he still could not release more information, including if anyone was arrested in connection to the search warrant.

#DEVELOPING: Federal agents in hazmat suits at scene of DHS and DEA raid on Whipple Rd. in Redwood City. https://t.co/pqfHpvwzsp pic.twitter.com/31Nl7Vjvar
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) August 18, 2017

The ICE spokesman said that area residents were allowed to return to their homes if they were locked out, as there was no shelter-in-place order.

Many members of the public are not aware that ICE engages criminal investigations, according to Schwab.

"These guys are going to be a lot more active," he said. "You'll see these guys out quite a bit. They do drugs and child predators — all kinds of stuff."

When asked if there was an immigration component involved in Friday morning's investigation, Schwab said there is not one so far as he is aware.

Here's the full message the Redwood City Police Department issued following the closure of Whipple Avenue:

The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are conducting an investigation on the 1300 block of Whipple Avenue. Effective immediately, Whipple Avenue will be closed in both directions from El Camino Real to Duane Street. The closure will be in place for an unspecified period of time. An update will be posted when the roadway is reopened.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone / Bay City News Service contributed to this report