SAN ANTONIO - Safety is still an issue in the Oak Meadow Villa apartment complex even after a drug sweep.
Friday night, curious tenants said it was chaotic and frightening to see a police helicopter flying overhead and drug sniffing dogs on the grounds during a drug raid. According to a police report, gang members were scrambling to get away.
One mother was afraid when someone banged on her door, wanting to hide inside to escape officers.
“They were knocking on every body's doors and windows. I wasn't going to let nobody in. It was scary to my kids," said a mother who didn’t want to be identified.
Members of SAFFE, San Antonio Fear Free Environment, teamed up with members of the Gang and Narcotic Units to sweep the area. Investigators arrested 11 people, some adults and juveniles. Police had reports of gang members taking over apartment units and openly selling drugs and brandishing weapons. Investigators found a large amount of marijuana, crack cocaine, a stolen car and a gun.
Since July, there have been mounting concerns about violence at the complex. Managers believe too many outsiders have been coming in the complex threatening the safety of tenants.
"It’s kind of scary cause we live here. We just moved in and I didn't know all of this was going on," said a frightened tenant.
The mom plans to keep her doors locked and eyes open to protect her children, "I'm going to take them where ever they need to go. They are not going to be walking around. It's too dangerous."
Another tenant, peering through a cracked door, told us officers have been patrolling the complex at night since the raid from about 10pm to midnight.
Still people question their safety and don’t believe police captured all the criminals. So they are hoping officers will continue to hang around and monitor the complex.
