In a surprising turn of events, the FBI conducted a search at Dolton Village Hall on Friday afternoon as part of a court-authorized law enforcement action. Shaky cellphone videos captured the presence of four plainclothes FBI agents in the lobby, leaving both residents and village trustees in astonishment.

While the sudden visit caught many off guard, some village trustees, including Brittney Norwood and Tammy Brown, expressed relief and joy at the federal intervention. The investigation comes in the midst of months-long controversy and divisiveness engulfing the south suburb, with several village trustees requesting the federal government to probe into allegations of mismanagement of funds by village officials, including the mayor.

One key concern revolves around the lack of transparency in Mayor Tiffany Henyard's administration. The village trustees have raised issues regarding the approval process of financial matters, claiming that nothing comes before the board for approval. Trustee Norwood explained that financial statements have not been received since September, leaving them in the dark about the village's financial state.

While the FBI's presence was acknowledged, specific details regarding the purpose of the investigation were not disclosed by federal authorities. An FBI spokesperson stated that it involved "court-authorized, investigative activity," but refrained from providing further information about the individuals under investigation. Trustee Brown expressed confidence in the FBI's preparedness, stating that they "know what they're looking for" when they initiate such actions.

Adding to the ongoing controversies, the Dolton Board of Trustees recently hired former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to investigate allegations against Mayor Henyard, including the misuse of public funds. The mayor has been accused of extravagant personal spending while the village is burdened with millions of dollars in debt. Additionally, Lightfoot will probe allegations of a village employee who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by a Dolton village trustee during a trip to Las Vegas, followed by retaliation after reporting the incident to the mayor.

While it remains unclear whether the FBI's presence at Dolton Village Hall is directly related to Mayor Henyard, recent developments indicate a web of potential wrongdoing within the village. Just last week, Dolton Village Administrator Keith Freeman was indicted on federal bankruptcy fraud charges for allegedly providing false income information to creditors during a bankruptcy filing earlier this year. If convicted, Freeman could face up to five years in prison.

The possibility of a connection between the FBI's visit and Administrator Freeman has been raised by Trustee Brown, who believes that Freeman should be terminated pending further investigations. However, without concrete information, speculation and assumptions must be avoided.

Residents of Dolton were intrigued by the FBI's presence, with many capturing the scene on their phones and wondering if anyone was taken into custody. However, the village trustees caution that the investigation will be a lengthy process, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of all relevant facts.

CBS 2 reached out to Mayor Henyard and her administration for comment on the events at village hall, but there was no response as of Friday night. As investigations continue, Dolton residents and stakeholders eagerly await answers and hope for a resolution to the ongoing controversies plaguing the village.