EXCLUSIVE: Five detained as tactical team serves search warrant

Posted: January 15, 2019 - 4:52 a.m.
Updated: January 15, 2019 - 3:16 p.m.

Police confirm five people were detained as the Shawnee Police Department's STAR Team served a search warrant at an eastern Shawnee house early Tuesday morning.

STAR stands for Special Tactics and Response according to the police department's website.

STAR Team members approach the front of the house just after midnight
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A man surrenders to police outside the house

Neighbors tell Operation 100 News that the house, 6809 Melrose Lane, is one that the police department is familiar with and a place where officers have recovered at least five stolen vehicles over the last three years.

Major Sam Larson says at around 7 p.m. a patrol officer checked a license plate of a vehicle parked at the address.

"The address that this vehicle was at, was an address we are familiar with in the 6800 block of Melrose," Maj. Larson said. "After an initial investigation, we decided to apply for a search warrant for the home as part of the investigation."

Operation 100 News arrived on the street shortly before 10 p.m. to find officers in defensive positions around the house and near police vehicles in the street. Officers waited outside with rifles and spotlights trained on the house. The Mercedes-Benz SUV still in the driveway with one door standing open.

Police maintained their positions until the STAR Team arrived in the department's Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) just after midnight. The team walked to the front door, where officers could be heard shouting "police, search warrant" and fists pounding on the front door.

Police shout into the house for anyone inside to come out

One of the men detained is walked to a waiting police vehicle

Major Larson says STAR Team members contacted five people at the house.

"One person was taken into custody on an outside warrant and the others were released," Maj. Larson said.

Officers remained on the scene until just after 2:30 a.m.

One of two police K-9s used to search inside the house

"The case will be reviewed by the Johnson County District Attorney's Office for potential charges," Maj. Larson said. "This is still an active investigation by our detectives and we cannot release any additional information on the case."

Larson says the stolen vehicle was recovered and will be returned to its owner.

The Shawnee Police Department's MRAP and a patrol vehicle behind
the Mercedes-Benz SUV which was reportedly stolen from Kansas City, Kansas

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