Armored vehicles, State Police shut down Hopewell neighborhood

HOPEWELL, VA (WWBT) - As families watched armored vehicles move into position Friday evening, investigators from Virginia State Police executed a search warrant inside a motorcycle clubhouse, leaving residents with few clues as to the goal or intent of the sweeping search.

In an email during the operation in the 3000 block of Granby Street, Sgt. Stephan M. Vick said State Police's Richmond Field Office executed the sealed warrant, which was part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

But after more than two hours, troopers made no arrests and left the Hopewell neighborhood.

"I felt like I was in Iraq and an IED has just been found," said Jeremiah Dabney in an interview Friday. "We watched them in and out of our house. They brought drug dogs out. They searched the property, kicked the doors in."

State Police said the armored vehicles are used in certain situations to protect troopers, but did not comment on the objective of the investigation.

The search centered on the clubhouse used by the Wicked Few Charity Brotherhood. The group's members are motorcyclists who said they recently filed paperwork to become a non-profit charitable organization.

But after floorboards were pulled off, and safes cracked open, Dabney said he approached troopers to ask what was happening.

"They all pointed AR-15s at me," Dabney said. "I'm in shorts and nothing else. I pulled my shirt off and dropped my pants to show him that I had no weapons. I said, 'I want to see my search warrant.'"

Troopers declined to show the sealed warrant, and left the area around 6:30 p.m.

According to members of the social club, investigators took three biker vests, a large banner displaying the organization's name, and a photo album.

"We have nothing to hide, we did nothing wrong here," Dabney said.

"I know people can make mistakes, I just want to know what this was all about."

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