"We have consulted to some extent with my counterparts in Dallas," Fuhrman said. "A lot of it is education because of the experience we have had here."

The evidence seized from the Cadillac Escalade that Jeffs was riding in when he was arrested is the subject of legal battles over whether it is privileged communications between the polygamist leader and his followers. Fuhrman said the FBI has cooperated with other agencies, to the extent they could but added it is an ongoing investigation.

Task force?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is urging the U.S. Justice Department to create a federal task force to look into polygamy and related crimes.

The Nevada senator accused Utah and Arizona of doing nothing about crimes in polygamy and said he was "embarrassed" for them. That angered Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, who penned a letter detailing prosecutions and victim outreach in polygamous communities. The two sides have now agreed to work together.

Beyond the rhetoric, Tolman said he did not believe a federal task force was necessary and said publicly announcing it inhibits any ability to actually investigate. Torgensen hopes they can still get federal input. "It wouldn't hurt to sit down one more time with our federal partners and walk through some of the potential issues," he said Thursday.

Tolman is willing to work with state authorities.

"We can't exceed what our authority is, and if people are clamoring for a federal task force as if that's the answer, I would argue that's red herring," he said. "What is really required is good, solid, investigative efforts on the part of state agencies ... added to that is whatever ability the FBI or others may be able to assist."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com