Suspect Falls Out of the Attic as Feds Raid New Orleans House for Drugs and Guns in Undercover Sting

Federal investigators were spying on a group of armed drug dealers in New Orleans and after identifying their suspect, they attempted to arrest him but he tried hiding in the attic — only to fall through the ceiling and land on the floor in a pile of insulation, according to authorities.

According to The Times-Picayune, members of a U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms task force received a tip that a group of men had been showing up there every morning around 8:00 a.m. with pistols and rifles to sell drugs.

Timothy Jones, a New Orleans police detective on the task force, wrote in court documents, “The men appear to have multiple lookouts on both ends of the block, many of whom appear to be armed. On several occasions, the men have appeared to be alerted to some type of threat and visibly armed themselves, taking tactical positions in the area, as if they were preparing to defend themselves from some type of attack,” The Times-Picayune reported.

Jones added, “The reporting citizen stated that several business owners in the area are scared they will be shot or killed by violence associated with the narcotics trafficking.”

Authorities began watching the block and zeroed in on Troy Locke, 34, as the “primary seller,” officials said.

They were able to develop a confidential informant who helped identify Locke by name. Police then obtained a warrant to search Locke’s home and vehicle, which was executed on Aug. 18, The Times-Picayune reported.

While executing that warrant, court documents state Locke tried to hide in the attic of the residence but fell through the ceiling and officers found him covered in insulation.

Authorities were able to seize two guns, two scales, plastic bags, four mobile phones, baggies, the multipurpose sedative promethazine, boxes of ammunition and more than $7,000 in cash, court records state.

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Locke was arrested on drug and gun charges and is awaiting arraignment, authorities said.

His record includes convictions for possession of cocaine and crack cocaine, making him a felon that is not allowed to possess guns, says the affidavit.

Because of that, U.S. Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld signed a complaint charging Locke with possessing a gun in furtherance of drug trafficking, possessing and distributing drugs and being a felon with a gun, The Times-Picayune reported.