.By Lee Higgins, AnnArbor.com
The FBI conducted raids Saturday night in the Washtenaw and Lenawee county area in an investigation tied to Hutaree, a Christian-oriented militia group based in Lenawee County, AnnArbor.com has learned.
The nature of those raids has not been made public. FBI Special Agent Jason Pack, who is based in Washington, D.C., said he did not know how many people were taken into custody. Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, could not be reached today.
Michigan militia members assist in the recent search for a missing Bridgewater Township man.
"I can confirm that there is ongoing law enforcement activity in the Ann Arbor general area," Pack said in a written statement. "Since the federal warrants are under court ordered seal, legally we cannot provide further comment at this time."
Michigan militia members say five people were arrested - including one known member of Hutaree. They said the raid occurred at a meeting of Hutaree members in the Ann Arbor area.
Hutaree members couldn't be reached for comment today. As AnnArbor.com reported last week, several Hutaree members were recently involved in searches in Bridgewater Township after two residents went missing in separate incidents.
The FBI set up a command post at the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department late last week.
FBI agents raid Hammond locationMarch 27, 2010 10:08 PM | 4 Comments
Hammond police assisted with an FBI raid Saturday evening in the Indiana city, but federal officials would not release any details.
Hammond officials did not know the circumstances surrounding the raid, which began about 7 p.m. and lasted two hours, said a police dispatcher.
The raid occurred on the 1900 block of Calumet Avenue, the dispatcher said. There were no injuries reported.
He said police were not notified ahead of time and only provided traffic control.
"We didn't even know about it until they said, 'hey we need your guys,'" he said.
A representative at the Chicago office of the FBI had no comment Saturday night, saying details might be available Sunday.
-- Jared S. Hopkins