Saturday, April 19, 2008

False abuse claim investigated in Texas polygamist raid

Officials say the Texas Rangers are pursuing Rozita Swinton of Colorado as a “person of interest” regarding telephone calls related to the polygamist compound in Eldorado, Texas.

Colorado Springs police confirmed that on Wednesday they arrested Swinton, 33, at her home.

"This arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred in Colorado Springs in February of this year," according to a news release from the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Swinton was transferred to the El Paso Criminal Justice Center in El Paso County, Colorado.

The investigation of Swinton is being headed by the Rangers and was disclosed by the Texas Department of Public Safety Friday just after 6 p.m.

Texas Child Protective Services says it launched a raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound earlier in April after receiving an alleged anonymous tip from a 16-year-old girl named "Sarah" who said she was being abused by her 49-year-old husband.

"Two Texas Rangers traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 16 and met with officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department to discuss a possible connection between Swinton and telephone calls made regarding activities at the polygamist Yearning For Zion (YFZ) Ranch of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) in Eldorado, Texas," according to the DPS news release issued late Friday.

"Texas Rangers accompanied the Colorado Springs officers while they executed an evidentiary search warrant at Swinton’s residence for items related to previous false reports to authorities in Colorado. more...

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Horace King (1807-1885) was the most respected bridge-builder in Alabama, Georgia, and northeastern Mississippi during the mid-nineteenth century. Enslaved until 1846,

Horace King Horace King Horace King (1807-1885) was the most respected bridge-builder in Alabama, Georgia, and northeastern Mississippi du...