BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Dozens of police and federal drug agents swooped into the Southtown public housing community this morning with search and arrest warrants looking for drug dealers and fugitives charged with violent crimes in different apartments.

The operation, dubbed "Broken Arrow," had resulted in four or five arrests as of about 10 a.m. today, said Lt. Sean Edwards, public information officer for the Birmingham Police Department.

Birmingham police, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI agents, and Jefferson County sheriff's deputies participated in the raid at the public housing community off University Boulevard.

A long line of police vehicles sped into the community and tactical units scrambled towards different apartments, some with hand held battering rams, about 9:30 a.m. today.

The first phase of the operation involved going into apartments with search warrants looking for drugs. The second phase involved the Birmingham Police Department's Crime Reduction Team looking for people with outstanding arrest warrants for violent crimes.

Edwards said the drug portion of today's raid was the result of complaints from the Southtown community, as well as patrol officers. "We really hope this sends a message that this type of thing is not going to be tolerated," he said.

A similar raid, with more than 100 law enforcement officers or agents, was conducted in June at Southtown. That raid resulted in six arrests and the confiscation of some weapons.

