The Marion County Prosecutor's Office says search warrants are being executed at two Teppanyaki Grill locations in connection with an investigation
INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Multiple police agencies raided at least two locations of a popular Asian buffet Thursday.
Teppanyaki Grill, which has locations in the 9000 block of East Washington Street and in the 5000 block of West 38th Street, was the target of the raids. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office, which is leading the investigation, would not disclose the nature of the investigation saying the search warrants are "sealed" and that the investigation could continue for months.
State Police assisted in a raid at a third Teppanyaki location, this one in Lafayette.
The Secret Service was involved in the confiscation of several vehicles. The presence of the federal agency led to speculation the investigation could involve a terror threat. A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said that is not the case.
IMPD had presence at the Teppanyaki Grill on West 38th Street with several patrol cars parked outside. Officers would not explain why they were there.
Both east and west side locations were closed, but the prosecutor's office said they do not have the authority to close businesses, so the owners must have decided to close down.
Regular customers were disappointed they'd have to find another place to eat lunch.
"This is my favorite place to eat," said Tyron Young of Indianapolis, who says he comes to the East Washington Street location several times a week. "The restaurant was good, the food was delicious and everything. I wouldn't have never thought something was wrong with it."
"We liked it a lot when we first started eating here and when the restaurant first opened up, it was clean and new...but as time went on, it got shabbier and shabbier and dirtier and dirtier," said Jo-Ann Haddix of Greenfield.
The Marion County Health Department did cite Teppanyaki Grill with multiple violations, including the discovery of rodents at the 38th Street location. Those health code violations likely have nothing to do with the raids Thursday morning, but again, officials aren't saying why they were here.
