COWETA, Okla. — FOX23 spoke with two businesses who witnessed a federal catalytic converter theft raid in Coweta.
The owner of Luke’s BBQ, Luke Tramel, watched the entire raid unfold. He said he’s never seen anything like it.
“I thought maybe it was just kind of a drill, but next thing I see them coming out with shields, and tactical guns, and I think this is the real deal,” he said.
“Next thing you know I just see them, you know, intense over here, you know drawn and ready to fire if need be,” Tramel said.
Tramel was checking on the meat in his smoker, when he said the scene unfolded quickly right outside his business.
“This is the first time I’ve ever loaded my smoker with wood at gunpoint with my hands in the air, that was intense,” he added.
Federal and local law enforcement officials were on the scene working side-by-side for hours on Wednesday.
Investigators were removing items out of the buildings all day, including a lot of catalytic converters.
FOX23 also spoke the man who rented out the two buildings where the raid took place.
“My understanding is they deal in catalytic converters, mufflers, recycling parts, my understanding was they had contracts with salvage yards to you know harvest whatever is in the catalytic converters that’s valuable,” said Jeremy Jones, the owner of Wholesale Auto.
Jones said he thought it was a legitimate business operation, and that they always paid their rent on time.
He said he was shocked by what he saw on Wednesday morning.
“I mean I walked into my office at 8:45 just a normal day next thing I know there’s, you know, what looked like a SWAT team surrounding the entire property so shocked is to put it lightly, you know, shocked.”
Jones said they’re more than happy to cooperate with investigators, but so far they have not been approached.
He confirmed to FOX23 that Tyler James Curtis, who is named as a defendant in the case, was the one paying rent on the building.
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