Empire, AL - 11 boys are in state protective custody after Blount County authorities raid the Reclamation Ranch in Empire, Alabama.

It's a christian home for troubled teens and pre-teens. The Blount County District Attorney's Office says the investigation started when a teenager at the ranch complained he was tortured by staff members.

Authorities executed a search warrant early Saturday morning. They searched the boys dorm and pulled over a van transporting the girls. Only the boys were taken into custody.

Pictures of raid are posted the ranch's website: www.reclamationranch.com. The site says authorities stormed into the boys dorm "in true "swat" style, breaking down the door with a battering ram, and entered with pistols and guns drawn!"  The director of the ranch, Jack Patterson, has been advised by his attorney to not to talk about the raid but he does say, " I thought I was in Russia. That's all I'll say."

The Reclamation Ranch has about 20 girls, 20 boys and 14 staff members. Patterson says the accusations of abuse are false and misleading and he says the way authorities searched the ranch was uncalled for.

"Coming in how they did was unconstitutional, unAmerican, ungodly, and un-everything else," says Patterson.

But the DA's Office says, because of the search, it now has evidence not only to support the original allegations of abuse but other cases of mistreatment.

We also contacted the Blount County Sheriff's Department and the Department of Human Resources and they both have no comment.

No one's been charged in the case.

There's a court hearing at 9a.m. Tuesday morning in Oneonta regarding the children in custody. Also at 9 a.m., ranch supporters will be gathering at a local park right across the street from the courthouse.