Clayton County police shut down a popular indoor flea market Thursday afternoon after undercover officers reported finding counterfeit merchandise being sold in more than dozen booths.

Tara Discount Mall, near I-75 and Upper Riverdale Road, was raided by police about 4 p.m. In two hours, police locked up a half dozen operators, and officers were waiting on search warrants to be signed for five booths.

Some operators fled their booths and mingled with customers when the caravan of officers showed up, so the market was locked down and each customer's identification checked.

Chief Jeff Turner said the market likely would reopen Friday morning.

"This is an ongoing effort to rid Clayton County of business owners operating illegally," Turner said. "Piracy affects not only the individual but consumers in the form of higher prices of merchandise and movie ticket sales."

Turner said seized merchandise included counterfeit handbags, clothes, shoes, music CDs and movie DVDs.

In booth Nos. 17 and 18, police boxed up more than 150 handbags purporting to be expensive designer labels such as Gucci, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Dooney & Bourke, and hundreds of name brand athletics shoes, shirts and jeans.

Sgt. Steve Palmer said the booth's operator was arrested on a felony count of possession of counterfeit items. The man's name was not immediately available.

Billy Joe, who runs a barber shop inside the market, was not happy about the interruption of his business.

"It seems like there is a less conspicuous way to do this," Joe said. "There are other legitimate businesses and services provided inside there that have to stop what they're doing while the police go after counterfeit operators."

Turner said he regrets inconveniencing legitimate businesses.

"It's unfortunate to hurt legitimate owners, but we have to protect the integrity of the scene," he said.