KATY, Texas (Covering Katy News) — Federal agents conducted a raid in the Lakes of Bridgewater neighborhood on Tuesday morning, but details about the operation remain scarce.
The raid unfolded along Morningtide Drive near North Mason and Morton roads but there did not appear to be any arrests.
FBI and DOJ involved in sealed federal investigation
"We are assisting several federal agencies issuing a warrant on a federal sealed indictment," a Precinct 5 spokesperson said, according to KHOU. Representatives from the FBI, Department of Justice, Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Marshals were all there.
While authorities confirmed they were executing a federal warrant, they said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was not involved.
Sealed indictments are kept confidential by court order, and their contents are not public information. Law enforcement agencies involved in executing warrants related to sealed indictments are legally prohibited from disclosing details about the charges, evidence, or targets of the investigation.
The indictment typically remains sealed until an arrest is made, the court orders it unsealed, or the investigation concludes
Even after execution of a warrant, if the indictment remains sealed, authorities still cannot discuss its contents publicly.
Neighbors describe chaotic scene on Morningtide Drive
Felix Muñoz told KHOU he noticed unusual vehicles in the neighborhood Tuesday morning when he walked his wife to her car. He said he spotted what appeared to be an FBI agent and an ATF agent.
Around 9:30 a.m., "everything went crazy," Muñoz said.
He said authorities blocked off a nearby intersection and about 15 to 20 people in military gear were banging on a neighbor's front door.
Harris County property records indicate the owners of the house don't reside there.
Two juveniles detained then released during Katy raid
Muñoz said he heard screaming inside the house, and about 30 minutes later, two juveniles were escorted out in handcuffs but were later released.
Authorities provided no information about what prompted the operation.