A cozy Royal Oak neighborhood turned into the epicenter of an alleged federal misconduct investigation when a team of agents raided a charming $600,000 green and white Colonial\u00a0on the block.<\/p>\n
A high-ranking Department of Homeland Security official lives there, though he’s not talking.<\/p>\n His lawyer isn’t saying much, either, beyond defending the reputation of his client: Homeland Security Special Agent in Charge Vance Callender, 49, who oversees federal investigations\u00a0in Michigan and Ohio involving numerous crimes, including sex trafficking, child pornography and immigration matters.<\/p>\n \u201cSpecial Agent-in-Charge Callender is a highly decorated federal law enforcement official whose security and reputation are our top priority. That said, some rumors about him online are incorrect. To the extent, Mr. Callender is required to enforce or defend his rights, he is prepared to do so,” Callender’s lawyer,\u00a0Nick Oberheiden, said in a Tuesday statement to the Free Press.<\/p>\n\n Oberheiden did not elaborate on the “rumors” he referred to, and declined to comment on any pending federal investigation, stating: “I cannot comment on that issue.”<\/p>\n According to an\u00a0Immigration and Customs\u00a0Enforcement spokesperson,\u00a0the case involves allegations of misconduct of some sort, as disclosed in this statement:\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAs public servants working for a law enforcement agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) takes allegations of misconduct very seriously. Any allegations of misconduct are appropriately investigated, and any employee, regardless of rank or seniority, who has committed provable misconduct, will be held accountable.”<\/p>\n\n The statement continued:\u00a0“Where necessary, ICE works with federal and\/or state and local law enforcement who may investigate such allegations. Per agency protocol, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) will also review the allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n ICE’s statements come in the wake of a Friday raid of Callender’s two-story home\u00a0near downtown Royal Oak that had neighbors wondering what was going on. One neighbor, who asked not to be identified because she lives nearby,\u00a0said she spotted the activity from her window\u00a0and saw about 15 people coming in and out of the home.<\/p>\n\n The last people to leave came out with a briefcase and a manila envelope, said the neighbor, who approached the plainclothes agents.<\/p>\n “They\u00a0said they were finishing up and they couldn\u2019t tell me what it was (about),” the neighbor said. “I asked if they were the police, and they said, ‘yes.’ “<\/p>\n On Tuesday, no one came to the door of the home.<\/p>\n![\"Homeland](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/02\/01\/PDTF\/220e8ff1-a888-4ae8-bb60-c3ed6546fdbd-VanceCallendar.jpg?width=660&height=345&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")