Special Unit Raids Carter Motel Room

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office raided a room filled with drugs at the Carter Motel in La Grange on Monday, April 17.

Investigators seized 4.8 oz of methamphetamine, 6.8 oz of ecstacy pills and over one pound of marijuana, along with narcotic sales paraphernalia and a 9mm handgun. No one was inside the residence when officers busted through the door. The bust happened Monday morning. Sheriff Keith Korenek said the Fayette County Narcotics Unit received information about possible drug sales taking place in a room at the Carter Motel, which is located at 243 Ellinger Rd. A report from Korenek said investigators placed the room under surveillance and found probably cause to obtain a search warrant.

“Due to it being unknown if the individual involved was possibly armed or present inside the room the Austin County Regional SRT team was used to execute the search warrant,” the Sheriff’s report said.

The Austin County Regional Special Response Team (SRT) – a unit similar to a urban SWAT team – arrived at the Carter Motel with an armored vehicle and officers clad with military-style weapons and body armor. The Record obtained a video of the moment officers breached the room. They used an explosive charge to break open the door. Many residents in the area heard the boom and a loudspeaker barking orders for people to come out of the room.

Eventually, officers discovered that the room was unoccupied. They spent several hours processing the crime scene.

“The investigation remains ongoing and further charges will be filed at a later time,” the Sheriff said in a press release Monday.

Sheriff Korenek wished to thank the Austin County Regional SRT and the La Grange Police Department for assisting at the scene.

The Carter Motel was the same location where a man wanted on sex offender charges shot and blinded Fayette County Deputy C.J. Lehmann during a standoff in 2018.