Those arrested in Wednesday raid “very active” in PA criminal world, police say

Published 12:14 am Saturday, August 3, 2019

A raid on a Port Arthur home earlier this week netted seven arrests and more are likely to come.

Port Arthur Police Department released more information about the raid that happened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at a home in the 4100 block of Charlotte Drive.

PAPD Det. Mike Hebert said the investigation, which led to the raid, stemmed from the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

“We believe these individuals are involved in a number of home and car burglaries in the city over the last several months,” Hebert said.

Upwards of 15 firearms were confiscated, and at least one was stolen, PAPD Chief Tim Duriso said previously. More of the guns may be stolen — Hebert said officers plan to track the serial numbers on the firearms to the owners.

He said the group of people arrested are “very active” and will be charged with engaging in criminal activity. Some may face federal charges, as well.

“The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) was there and are reviewing the case to see if it fits criteria for federal charges,” he said.

While the raided home is located in the Pear Ridge area of the city, the people arrested are suspected of committing crimes all over the city.

In addition, the suspects are considered a dangerous group of individuals, which is why SWAT was called in.

“We knew some of the people inside the house were going to be armed,” Hebert said.

No injuries were reported.

PAPD’s recently formed Narcotics and Guns Unit, along with SWAT, ATF, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies, Port Neches Police Department and Beaumont Police Department raided the home and uncovered more than the firearms. There was also cocaine and other drugs and a police protective vest.

Duriso said Wednesday that police would check the serial number on the vest to see if it was actually stolen and if so, where from.

The case is far from being over.

“This was a very manpower intensive investigation; it’s going to go on quite for quite some time,” he said.

PAPD declined to release the names of the people who were arrested, saying the case remains under investigation, but a search of the Jefferson County Appraisal District’s website shows Ismael Loya as the owner of the home on Charlotte Drive and a search of the Jefferson County Jail roster shows a person named Ismael Loya, 38, was arrested Wednesday night by PAPD on a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity.