DEARBORN — Michigan State Police investigators raided Dearborn’s City Hall Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of embezzlement.

State Police detectives carried out boxes from the office of the Dearborn City Clerk shortly after the raid. Police served a search warrant to City Clerk Kathy Buda.

Dearborn City Attorney Laurie Ellerbrake said police took boxes from the clerk’s office and that the city had no further details.

“It was a surprise,” Ellerbrake said of the raid. “We cooperated fully and they executed the search warrant. They took some documents.”

Authorities didn’t disclose who or what was being targeted in their investigation.

“If there is a problem, we want to know what it is,” Ellerbrake said. “The voters, residents have a right to have faith in their officials. If it’s not a problem, residents have a right to know that as well.”

Buda, an elected official in her fifth term, has been with the city since 1994. According to the city, she resumed her duties as clerk following the raid. Later that evening, Buda attended a City Council study session with Council members and Mayor Jack O’Reilly present.

O’Reilly told The Arab American News that the city clerk operates independently from the city and other elected officials and that his administration was not involved and didn’t have further updates on the case.