Federal Search Warrants Executed in Scottsdale; Police Say Public Safety Was the Priority

Generic DHS photo by Tia Dufour/Released

By Staff Reporter

iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published January 27th, 2026

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Why Federal Agents Were in Scottsdale: Police Explain What Happened

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — After residents noticed a visible federal law enforcement presence around parts of Scottsdale, police are explaining what happened and emphasizing that the activity was not a local police operation.

According to the Scottsdale Police Department, federal agents executed multiple search warrants across the Phoenix metro area on January 26, 2026, including four locations within the City of Scottsdale. The warrants were served by Homeland Security Investigations in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a large-scale federal criminal investigation involving a local restaurant chain.

Scottsdale police say they were notified ahead of time by federal authorities as a courtesy. Once notified, the department prepared officers to be on standby — not to participate in the investigation, but to ensure public safety in case the activity drew concern or disruption.

Police stressed that Scottsdale officers did not assist in serving the search warrants and were not involved in the investigation itself. Their role was limited to being ready to respond if needed and helping maintain calm while the federal warrants were carried out.

“Our focus was making sure residents, employees, and visitors remained safe while the federal operation took place,” the department said in a statement.

Scottsdale Police also thanked their federal partners for the advance notice, saying it allowed the city to plan appropriately and minimize any potential impact on the community.

Anyone seeking additional details about the investigation is being directed to the Department of Homeland Security, which is handling the case.

iSkyNews.com will continue to follow the situation and share updates as more information becomes available.

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