South Portland police officers, agents for the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Southern Maine Regional SWAT team raided a motel in the city’s Thornton Heights neighborhood Tuesday evening.

Lt. Frank Clark said the agencies teamed up to serve what Clark described as “high risk search warrants” at the Maine Motel, at 606 Main St. An official described it as a drug-related search warrant.

Clark said residents may have heard officers using flash bang grenades, which produce a bright light and thunderous blast to distract potentially dangerous criminals.

“What I can say at this point is that South Portland Police Department and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, assisted by our Southern Maine Regional SWAT team, served high risk search warrants at the Maine Motel earlier this evening,” Clark said in an email. ” There were no injuries and an increased police presence may remain in that area as the investigation is ongoing.”

Clark said additional information concerning the raid might not be available until late Tuesday or Wednesday morning.

Scott Pelletier, a spokesman for the MDEA, said his agency became involved after being made aware that drugs could be present in the motel room.

“I can confirm that we are doing a drug related search warrant at the Maine Motel, but there is another angle to this case that South Portland is working as well,” Pelletier said.

Pelletier was not certain if any arrests had been made.


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