Warrants served on polygamous towns' offices in Colorado City, Hildale

HILDALE, Washington County — More than 20 law enforcement officers from Utah and Arizona served search warrants Tuesday on government buildings and homes of government officials in two Fundamentalist LDS border towns, seeking evidence of "misuse of public funds."

Rod Parker, an attorney for the FLDS Church, said the warrants were executed by police at fire stations in Colorado City, Ariz., and Hildale, Utah, around 6:30 a.m. The Mohave County (Ariz.) Sheriff's Office said warrants also were served on the homes of Colorado City Fire Chief Jake Barlow and on the home of Colorado City Manager David Darger.

Different sources have indicated that there may have been anywhere from four to six warrants served in the two towns.

"This investigation was for obtaining evidence of misuse of public funds as well as fraudulent schemes in connection with the city government and the fire departments," the sheriff's office said.

Parker said he hadn't seen the warrants and could only speculate on what they included. He suggested they might be the result of "stuff that's been going on for years" between an investigator with the Mohave County Attorney's Office and fire officials in Colorado City.

The sheriff's office said as many as 25 law enforcement officers, including those who specialize in computer forensics, were involved in the operation.

Authorities said five of the six search warrants were executed in Colorado City, Ariz., after being signed by judges in Mohave County. The one served in Hildale was signed by a judge in Washington County. Peter Stirba, attorney for the city of Hildale, said the warrant had nothing to do with the city itself, just the fire station in town.

FLDS spokesman Willie Jessop called the incident a "multi-state raid," but declined to elaborate, saying, "We're in the middle of it."

Management of the twin towns, as well as the FLDS Church and its religious traditions, have been under increased scrutiny since 2005, following allegations of an increase in the number of underage marriages and misuses of church funds. This led officials in Utah to appoint a special fiduciary, Salt Lake certified public accountant Bruce Wisan, to oversee the communities' holdings, which are known as the United Effort Plan trust.