Posted on 04/07/2010 5:37:29 AM PDT by Colofornian
Colorado City, Ariz. » Law officers swept into a polygamous community at the Utah-Arizona state line Tuesday as part of an investigation into alleged misuse of public funds by the local fire department.
About 25 officers and investigators arrived in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., about 7:30 a.m. and served search warrants on the Colorado City Fire District's main station, three substations and homes of the fire chief and town manager.
The Mohave County Sheriff's Office said in a statement the investigation was aimed at "obtaining evidence of misuse of public funds as well as fraudulent schemes in connection with the city government and the fire departments."
A majority of the towns' 8,000 or so residents are members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which has been under government scrutiny for the past eight years because of its underage marriage practices.
Molly Edwards, spokeswoman for the Arizona Attorney General's Office, referred calls to the Mohave County Attorney's Office.
Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith did not return a telephone call and a secretary said it was unlikely he would talk about the investigation.
The Colorado City Fire District works with Hildale through an inter-local agreement to provide fire and emergency service in the community and surrounding area. In addition to the main station, it operates three substations -- two in Colorado City and a third in Hildale. The department has six full-time employees and about 100 volunteer firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
Hildale Mayor David Zitting said his city budget, which is independently audited annually, provides about $200,000 a year for fire department service.
"It would seem that an audit would pick up something if there was anything amiss," he said, while praising the combined fire departments.
"I don't think you could find a better-qualified fire department anywhere, they are very well-qualified and certified," Zitting said.
Department workers watched unhappily as outside officers combed through their offices.
"We're public safety, too," said Lt. Glen Jeffs, a volunteer paramedic as he watched the scene. Authorities, he said, were "on a fishing trip looking for something."
"They put the community in harm's way and danger by making it hard to serve," he said.
Brian Meldrum, a volunteer firefighter, said the department had "always been good for the county and the state and now they want us to go away."
Both Fire Chief Jake Barlow and Colorado City Town Manager David Darger, who also serves as the fire district's secretary/treasurer, were away when the warrants were served.
Reached by telephone, Barlow said the department has complied with numerous subpoenas from Arizona authorities during the past two years based on unspecified allegations. He called Tuesday's action "over the top for anything they have the right to do."
Barlow said investigators would not allow his volunteer staff into the stations or offices during the seven-hour operation and feared the department's ability to respond to emergencies would be hampered.
However, investigators had fire personnel move their equipment outside the buildings so they could respond to calls. During the day, the department received one fire and one ambulance call and were given permission to respond by county authorities.
The warrants apparently authorized removal of records and computer data. While the investigation was launched by Arizona officials, the warrants were signed by judges in both states, said Rod Parker, a Salt Lake City attorney who has represented FLDS members in other court matters.
Officers from Mohave County and the Washington County sheriff's offices participated in the search. They were assisted by investigators from the Mohave County Attorney's Office and forensic computer experts from the Arizona Attorney General's Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
A town deputy said investigators kicked in the door to one home. Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan told The Associated Press residents had refused police requests to open the door.
Police dispatchers in the town fielded dozens of calls from panicked residents, fearful children would be removed, as word about the investigation spread through the community.
The investigation comes also two years to the day after Texas authorities raided the sect's Yearning For Zion Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, and removed more than 400 children. Those children were later returned to their parents.
Onlookers, including some of the department's volunteer staff, kept watch as investigators worked. Traffic was steady around the stations throughout the day as other residents drove past to see what was happening. Some photographed and videotaped the operation.
Attorneys general in Utah and Arizona backed a court takeover of the community's United Effort Plan Trust, which holds virtually all property in the two towns, in 2005. That takeover has largely been resisted by FLDS members. Arizona authorities have suggested in recent court filings that officials need additional records from the local governments to properly manage the trust.
In 2005, Arizona authorities took over the Colorado City Unified School District based on allegations of financial mismanagement, though no charges were ever brought against FLDS members then running the district. The district is now again under local control, though no FLDS members serve in its administration.
“Why is polygamy singled out for prosecution?”
If you really seek for 2 wives or more in your family, then 2Wives.com is the real place for you!
2Wives.com is a non-religious site for good people
seeking polygamy (or, more specifically, polygyny).
This is not the site for you if you are looking for
polyandry (”multiple husbands”),
polyamory (”multiple loves”),
dishonest bigamy (”secret marriages without wives knowing”)
or non-committed relationships.
This is only about totally-committed marriage of a husband with 2 wives or more, where all the wives agree 100%.
It seems you do not have to be mormon or muslim...this is non-religious.
Note: Not advocating this, it is for information purposes only.
United WHAT??
Maybe them judges in both states are PRESBYTERIAN.
The Documentary Channel has been running a show on this group.
If this documentary is an accurate depiction of what takes place, it’s really sad what the women, children and even some of the men endure. The women and children are treated as property and men and older boys are routinely expelled so that the more favored men can have access to the women and children.
There is a preview of it on youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1cTk2cJQac&NR=1
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