Avenal City Hall, Community Center and homes served search warrants by Kings County DA's Office

AVENAL, Calif. (KFSN) -- Investigators with the Kings County District Attorney's and the Kings County Sheriff's Office spent hours collecting evidence at various spots in Avenal.

The DA's Office served search warrants at seven locations, including the Avenal City Hall, the community center and at least four homes.

"Including the three council members, the mayor, our city manager's home and our new community building that they are building," says resident and recall advocate, Ginger Wallis.

In a brief press release, the Kings County District Attorney's Office says the evidence gathered relates to an active investigation.

Currently, some of Avenal's City Council members are facing a Kings County judge following the April recall election of four of its five members.

Recall organizers reacting to the situation after Wednesday's events, "I'm happy this is happening so that we can move forward and rebuild our community," Wallis expresses.

She continues to share, "They don't want to step down, so as community members have complained we want to know what they are hiding. Why won't they step down? There has to be a reason why. They say the city has to have their council members to function, there is a process of that. We did our recall legally. They are out, it was certified on May 28 of this year."

Attorneys have advised city councilmembers and employees not to make public comments at this time..

But many were visibly distraught after their homes were raided.

On Monday, after the latest court hearing, recalled city mayor Alvaro Preciado and City Manager Antony Lopez sharing their perspectives.

Preciado said, "If we acknowledge this illegal recall election as a legal recall election I won't be there, none of the other people will be there, the city needs to continue moving every single day providing services to our community."

Lopez continues, "Because this is an ex parte petition we don't feel that this should be moved so quickly, i think there needs to be a thorough review of nuances throughout the case, it should go through the Kuranta process, as allowed by the AG."

Avenal City Hall is expected to reopen on Thursday.

City council members will be back in court on July 9, five days before the original July 14 date.

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