Irmo PD’s presence in subdivision causes concern for neighbors

Irmo, SC (Paul Kirby) Law enforcement officers that were serving a warrant in the New Friarsgate area of Irmo, caused some concern for the neighbors Tuesday evening. According to Irmo PD, there was no real need for anyone that lives close to the home they were focusing on Parlock Road to be concerned except for the person they were looking for. Parlock is close to the Friarsgate Park and H.E. Corley Elementary School and is lined by small, single-family homes on wooded lots.

A number of law enforcement agencies were at the home assisting the Irmo police officers. Their mere presence drew a great deal of attention in an area where folks are more used to children than police lining their streets. At one point, the officers deployed what they described as, “distraction devices,” during the operation. These can include things like “flash-bangs,” a throwable device that looks like a hand grenade, but when deployed, simply makes a tremendous noise and a bright flash of light that distracts, and even temporarily stuns those who are close to its deployed area. This allows officers to quickly move in to capture their suspect without using escalating force. Although this wouldn’t harm the neighbors or the suspect, the sound of these would certainly draw tremendous attention in a normally quiet neighborhood.

Irmo officers have not released who they were looking for or if that individual was taken into custody.