New Times / News

New Times doesn't live here anymore

BY DUSTIN HYMAN

On Sept. 25, a handful of FBI agents executed a search warrant at 505 South Higuera St. in downtown SLO.

The building was once home to your beloved New Times. One of its current occupants is real-estate company Apex Properties. To give readers a sense of scale: Apex has approximately five agents and its website currently lists 1,825 homes for sale in the area.

A New Times reporter on the scene asked one of the agents—as the buff, t-shirted officer hauled boxes into a nondescript white minivan—what was happening.

“We’re just helping them move,” he replied. When the proper press credentials were displayed, the unnamed agent was more forthcoming: “We’re executing a search warrant.” He referred all further questions to the agency’s public information officer.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said she couldn’t comment on the specific details of the warrant. She did say it was part of an ongoing criminal investigation—not open to the public.

Employees of Apex referred New Times to broker and president Tim Barnes, who did not respond to repeated requests for comment.