From Deseret News archives:
Is arrest tied to FLDS raid, phone calls?
The woman allegedly has a history of making calls while pretending to be a young girl.
Rozita Swinton, 33, was arrested on a warrant charging her with false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor, the Colorado Springs Police Department confirmed in a brief statement issued late Thursday. Swinton was arrested at her home on Wednesday in connection with an incident that occurred in Colorado Springs in February, police said.
"The Texas Rangers were in Colorado Springs (Wednesday) as part of their investigation involving the compound in Texas. They left and have not filed any charges on Rozita Swinton as of this time," Colorado Springs police said.
Colorado Springs police refused to release any other details, saying that the affidavit for the arrest warrant is sealed.
The El Paso County Jail said Swinton posted $20,000 bail and was released.
It is unclear how Swinton is connected to the phone call that sparked the raid on the FLDS Church's Yearning for Zion Ranch two weeks ago.
The girl named a "Dale Barlow" as her husband, putting scrutiny on an FLDS member in Colorado City, Ariz., who had already been convicted in connection with a child-bride marriage. Texas Rangers came to Utah to question Barlow, but left without arresting him.
A source close to the situation said the woman first contacted anti-polygamy activist Flora Jessop after the raid began, claiming to need help. That call was being investigated by Arizona child welfare authorities.
"She really did have us convinced," said Joni Holm, who has sheltered children who have left the FLDS Church. She also spoke to the woman.
"I was positive. She sounded like a little girl. I thought she was real," she told the Deseret News.
Jessop spoke to the woman pretending to be the teenage girl in numerous phone calls, but when her story started having holes in it, she went to Texas authorities with recordings of the calls. Jessop was unavailable for comment Thursday night.
The woman was reportedly obsessed with the FLDS Church, activists told the Deseret News, and had a history of making similar false calls to authorities in the Colorado Springs area.
Attempts to reach Swinton for comment were unsuccessful.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
Recent comments
Firstly Rozita should go directly to jail for the sheer anquish...
just my thoughts | April 2, 2009 at 6:52 p.m.
For years I worked in a county hospital maternity ward where girls,...
Old retired RN | June 6, 2008 at 10:21 p.m.
I do wonder how these children have fared in foster care. I would...
Cindy Donahey | June 2, 2008 at 7:31 a.m.
- Iran releases 3 journalists jailed 10:42 p.m.
- Child killed after being run over 10:36 p.m.
- 1A: Rebels, Holmes just too much 10:34 p.m.
- Utes pound winless Lobos 10:33 p.m.
- Cowboys looking for answers 10:31 p.m.
- BYU game at a glance 10:29 p.m.
- NFL: Midseason grades 10:20 p.m.
- SA: South Summit shuts down Grand 10:18 p.m.
- NFL Sunday 10:17 p.m.
- Hallelujah for Handel's 'Messiah' 10:14 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
207 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - Letters: Care not a right
190 - Lobo suspended
171 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Hall, Cougars crush Cowboys
118 - RSL rallies to advance
102 - Prep football: San Juan vs. S. Sevier
102 - Thousands protest health bill
99 - Provo company innovating engines
98
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
You think healthcare is expensive now? Just wait til its free.
I am so deeply saddened that the foes death profiteering have won. NOT
So let me get this straight: I'm forced into obamacare, yet congress members...
For "What a BCS team looks like?" This year's Frog team kicks either so...
And we thought Bush was bad... Could this guy get any worse?
Went to the game, left early. Not surprised, we saw this same thing...
Bush started 2 wars costing trillions, so Republicans, just zip your lips.
Anyone who thinks Max Hall is heismen worthy should look at the numbers....
Thanks America: You pay my food bills, rent, electricity, and now...
I lied! Here is more one more post Nocioni remember was coming off...


