FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale police shut down a portion of U.S. 1 Thursday afternoon as they served a search warrant at a motel, officials confirmed to Local 10 News.
Sky 10 was over the scene just before 3 p.m., where traffic was shut down in the area of Southeast 17th and 20th Streets.
Police officers in an armored vehicle were seen outside the Relax Inn at 1851 S. Federal Highway.
SWAT officers were later seen entering the motel.
Police reopened the highway at around 3:10 p.m. but remained on the scene, detaining five people.
FLPD later confirmed that officers were serving a narcotics warrant.
One man tried to run from police while handcuffed, darting across the highway before taking a spill.
On Friday, authorities identified the suspects who were arrested and the charges they are facing.
Don Thurston, 39, faces two counts of delivery of cocaine.
Lauren Michelson, 30, faces a charge of possession of heroin.
Heath Howard, 41, faces charges of possession of cocaine with the intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine, trafficking fentanyl, trafficking methamphetamine, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Tatyana Saintima, 23, faces a trespassing charge.
Kionnataya Reed, 21, faces chares of attempt to escape, resisting without violence and probation violation. She also faces charges related to multiple warrants, authorities said.
Sky 10 video:
Patrons and a manager reacted to the raid Thursday afternoon.
“I take of it they’re cleaning house. Which is a good thing,” the manager, who didn’t identify himself, said. “We could not tell you what they took, anything. It’s none of my business what they took.”
A patron, identified only as “Britney”, said she didn’t know why police were there, but added “they be snitching.”
“(You’re) talking too much, Britney,” a woman told her.