DEA agents raid several pain clinics in metro area - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

Federal and state authorities raided several pain clinics in the metro Atlanta area on Wednesday.

One raid took place at the Amarc Clinic on Lakewood Avenue behind the Lakewood Amphitheatre.

"We were just sitting there in the waiting room, waiting on her to see a doctor and three or four of them come in there, guns drawn talking about, ‘Freeze. Do not move,'"  said Charles Langston.

Down the street on Jonesboro Road, agents raided another pharmacy.

The scene was repeated at several other clinics across the area owned by the same person, including one in Tyrone.

DEA agents carried out several boxes of patients' records and interviewed patients and staff.

Even some patients said they believe the pain clinic was much more.

"They're getting like 240 pills or whatever, which is an ungodly amount," said Connie Langston.

"This parking lot to the right of me would have from 80 to 90 cars. I knew something was wrong," said Veronica Nunley.

Dr. William Richardson denied being a part of a "pill mill."

"They evidently thought some things were going on. Some people maybe were coming who weren't legitimate pain patients, but that's something that we try to screen," Richardson said.

But neighbors said they see a steady stream of cars from out of the area and even out of state here.

"Oh absolutely, no one was from around here. I've never seen so many white people in a black neighborhood in southeast Atlanta," said one man.

No arrests have been made yet.

Officials said that it will take a long time to pour through all the patient records they seized to figure out what crimes may have been committed.