Kenmore residents startled after police raid neighborhood home

KENMORE, N.Y. (WIVB) - A quiet Kenmore neighborhood was left startled Tuesday morning with the sounds of helicopters, flash bangs and police.

Mary Armstrong, who lives on Palmer Avenue, was in her backyard with her dog at 7 a.m. when she heard a helicopter circling her neighborhood. Shortly after that, she said she heard the loud sound of a flash bang.

"It sounded like shotguns," she said.

When Armstrong stepped in front of her house, she saw a number of law enforcement agencies surrounding a home across the street.

"It was Homeland Security and all the various police agencies were here, so it was quite a deal and people dressed in tactical armor," she said.

Armstrong didn't know the people who lived in the home on Palmer Avenue that officers rushed into.

"It was really kind of surprising to know that it happened right there," she said. "I do know that new people moved in upstairs a few months ago, so I really don't know who they are or what that was all about, but yeah, it was kind of surprising. The flash bomb was the thing that got your attention."

WIVB 4 reached out to law enforcement to find out if anyone was arrested and why, and have yet to hear back as of Tuesday afternoon.

An ICE spokesperson released the following statement to News 4:

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is executing its mission of identifying and removing criminal aliens and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws. All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.

ICE Buffalo is actively investigating immigration crimes in cities across northern, western and central New York State; but due to our operational tempo and the increased interest in our agency, we are unable to research and respond to every rumor or discuss specifics of routine daily operations.

For operational security and for the safety of our law enforcement personnel, ICE does not confirm or discuss ongoing or future operations. The agency publicly announces the results of operations when appropriate."