Raided

The FBI raided two homes on Bremerton Drive in Dale City on March 9, making at least one arrest and throwing the neighborhood and surrounding area into confusion. But the FBI will still not release any information on the one confirmed arrest or charges filed.

"I recognize that everybody would like information on this," FBI spokeswoman Katherine W. Schweit told Dale City Patch. "We have not released any information."

Authorities denied that gunshots were fired and said the raid was not drug related and that residents in the neighborhood were not in danger at the time.

But local residents are not satisfied with this response.

"I was scared to death my kids would be caught in the crossfire," James Hunt, who lives next door to one of the two houses raided, told Dale City Patch. Hunt, who said he served overseas in both Afghanistan and Iraq as an Army warrant officer, said the raid resembled a military operation. He said snipers were in his backyard, armored trucks across the street and officers were throwing flash-bang grenades in the street and blanketing the area with tactical teams.

"I haven't seen a raid like that anywhere except in a combat zone," he said.

According to InsideNova, residents in the neighborhood were told they couldn't leave their homes for hours. Several residents carried on a long Facebook conversation while the raid happened, trying to share information. There were rumors of shots fired and a body bag being removed from one house-which the FBI said is untrue.

Josue Alvarez, who lives in one of the homes raided, attributed smashed windows, dents, holes in the walls, and other damage to the FBI. He also told InsideNova that a baby that lives in the household was taken by the FBI during the raid, but it was not harmed.

The FBI's answer is simply that the operation was part of a violent crime task force made up of local, state and federal agencies and they cannot comment on ongoing investigations.

Neighbor James Hunt told Patch the raid and the lack of information left residents concerned for their safety. "I'm sure they had good reason to arrest those guys, but until they tell us, we have to assume they can come in to any house in Dale City and do that to any of us."