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ATF makes arrests in Manteca; offer no details
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SWAT team officers from Manteca and Ripon gathered behind their police department tactical truck in the 500 block of Mission Ridge Thursday following their support of a warrant service by the federal ATF agency. - photo by GLENN KAHL

The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agency made multiple arrests shortly before noon Thursday after serving a search warrant in the 500 block of Mission Ridge Drive.

Backed up by the Manteca/Ripon SWAT team, undercover officers entered the two story home in what appeared to be a clandestine operation using Ripon Police’s armored vehicle in the search of the home.

ATF officers said they could not disclose the nature of their search or release the names of anyone who might have been arrested.  They said the case is sealed and information could not be released to the media for some 10 days.

Black and white ATF undercover SUVs were parked on both sides of the home – one in the street and the other partially in a driveway to the side of the house.  A single Manteca police patrol car blocked traffic at the corner of the roadway and Manteca’s Special Weapons and Tactics truck that carried some 10 SWAT members was parked the wrong way just to the east of the residence.

The ATF agents made use of their black SUV in what appeared to be their command post and asked that no pictures be taken by the media that would show the faces of their undercover officers who trailed in and out of the house.

Manteca Police Public Information Officer Lt. Tony Souza said that his department knew little of the case and was on the scene only to offer protection for the outside agency. The ATF agents didn’t identify themselves, but their badges on their vests made it clear who they were.

Manteca officers seemed to be preparing for the possibility of an extended tactical operation by having the (CERT) Citizens Emergency Response Team staging in a position at the Burlington Coat Factory at the corner of South Main Street and Mission Ridge Drive.

It was just two weeks ago that ATF served a search warrant in a similar raid in Ripon where agents also said they could not give the names of who they had arrested or reveal the charges against the person or persons for some 10 days – because the case was federal in nature and sealed by the court.