Red dust clouds kicked up by federal agents raiding homes in southeastern Utah last week have now morphed into a full-blown political storm.

Seventy-two hours after federal authorities released details of a dramatic conclusion to a years-long undercover operation — 23 swift arrests — several Utah congressmen denounced the raid as overkill.

The U.S. Attorneys Office fired back at critics Tuesday, underlining the gravity of the investigation and confirming that agents routinely carry out felony warrants while wearing flak jackets and drawing their weapons.

"This case involves significant collections of Indian artifacts taken from public and tribal lands ... sacred to Native Americans, not 'trash and trinkets' as some have suggested," said Brett Tolman, U.S. Attorney for Utah. "The felony arrests of the defendants were made in accordance with the agencies' standard operating procedures."

Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, R-Utah, are asking U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to look into whether excessive force was used to arrest suspects last week for theft of American Indian artifacts in southeastern Utah, and whether that contributed to the suicide of one man.

"I am deeply concerned about the raids that took place in San Juan County," Hatch said. "While I understand that federal officers obtained the necessary search and arrest warrants, I have reservations about how they executed those warrants.

"The perception in the community is that more than 100 federal agents armed with assault weapons jumped out of black Suburbans and manhandled the accused unnecessarily," he said. "If that is true, I question the appropriateness of such an extreme show of force, especially given the nonviolent nature of the offenses. To ensure the number of officers and show of force were not excessive, we have written Attorney General Eric Holder and asked him to look into this incident."

According to Tolman, the number is closer to 150 agents who carried out the raids on June 10. Although the Utah Attorney General's Office said it was never notified of the high-profile raid, Tolman said four local law enforcement agencies in the region were notified as early as a week before agents arrested and handcuffed almost two dozen people.

Bennett said, "The reports I have heard from constituents ... are cause for great concern. I am not condoning any alleged illegal activity, but I am questioning whether the level of response was appropriate given the charges."

The pair noted in their letter to Holder that one of those arrested, Dr. James Redd, committed suicide the day after the raid.

"The execution of these warrants has brought nothing but alarm to a community that was already distrustful of federal law enforcement," their letter said.

Contributing: Jacob Hancock

E-MAIL: lee@desnews.com