Reader comments
Utah senators want review of artifact raid

While I will withhold judgment about the process taken place to enforce the law, I was hopeful that Deseret would have offered a more balanced report by inclusion as some television stations did of the Native American view point regarding this issue. I gather that there is a factual dispute as the seriousness of the crime and whether or not there were deliberate criminal activities of a high level going on along with the more pedestian community confiscation of artifacts.

Policians, milk it. Make it sound like the gestapo if you can. The sheep will believe you. Why? Bcuz it is Utah!!

You rob graves, you pay the price.

Wonder how folks in Utah would feel about it if Mormon gravesites at Martin's Cove and other sites were dug up and ransacked for artifacts.

It is clear that how they carried out the arrests were extreme and meant to send a message to our conservative State of Utah. The Native American tribes have my deepest respect, but even they have to admitt that a simple arrest and return of the stolen artifacts would have been sufficient. Indian Reservations are prolific with crime, including serious felony crimes, and they would not like government handling them that same way thay handled the Utah arrests. Let the American Indians remember that government is using them once again to carry out their own agenda, they do not give a hoot about their artifacts, there is more to the story that government is NOT telling us, what a suprise!

So if a person robs a store, a quiet arrest and return of the money would be sufficient? Crimes were committed. Penalties must be paid.

There is no artifact, no matter how precious, worth the life of a much loved and respected physician. What Dr. Redd did, if indeed he did what he is accused of, was wrong and he should have paid the penalty but to heap enough humiliation on a person that they feel that they have to take their own life, is not justified. The arrests were nothing more than a "political stunt" with tragic consequences.

An apparent thief committed suicide. It is frankly disgusting to suggest that this is the fault of the law-enforcement agents who arrested him.

People live on if they are unjustly accused to see their reputation restored. Ultimately it was his choice.

While the arrests may have seem overkill, keep in mind reservations are considered independent nations. Crimes against them should not be taken lightly.

I too would like to hear the opinion of Native Americans.

When i leave my trash and trinkets it does not offend me to have someone else take it and even profit from it. We have only seen the start of the kings men from the federal government roughing up citizens in the name of what ever cause they have going.

Sounds like one person accepted the blame for actions taken which were illegal. The rest just like to complain hoping to get some tree huggers to help them out of their criminal activity. Cops all carry guns. Sometimes they have to use them. Even though it looks like a "nice" crime, the people who do them aren't always nice inside. So "justice" you say; one person decided for himself. No one else had anything to do with one persons decisions.

i am glad to see that the federal government take this type of action. as a native american i feel that robbing graves and stealing sacred artifacts is unforgivable. these people can not hide behind being "collectors" they are thieves. they are still part of a culture. and for a lot of natives, our culture is something defined by not just who we are today, but who are ancestors were.
people would be upset if these "good citizens" robbed from a veterans cometary, but it is okay to look the other way when it is natives. how sad and racist that viewpoint is.

This whole thing is Obama's way of getting even with Utahans for failing to bow down and worship him. This is just the beginning.

Do some research before making a claim like that. This investigation began 2.5 years ago under a Bush appointed team.

You need to revisit this story. This was a 2.5 year long undercover investigation conducted by a task force that was appointed by Pres. GW Bush. Meaning, this investigation was in progress 2 YEARS BEFORE OBAMA EVEN TOOK OFFICE.

Just because you don't like Obama doesn't mean you can justifiably blame everything on him. While there are definitely things Obama is and will be responsible for, this is not one of them. Next time try thinking before you speak.

Silly conclusion that is was grave robbers - maybe these were artifacts picked up in the sands of time? There are a lot of artifacts that are in the area that are exposed to the elements and not tucked away in actual grave sites. This ain't Egypt.

How many pieces of clay are exposed through the grounds in a Veterans Cemetery? Pottery broken or the rare whole) is not "grave material that is robbed, it is 19th century or earlier litter.

This sounds like the same thing the BLM pulled in Oregon. "A Collector with little collection left" The Bend Bulletin June 22,2008. Oregons case has gone on for 6 1/2 years and two defendents have not even been charged with a crime. There large collections still remains in the hands of the Government and their reputations destroyed! At least the people in Utah are being charged with a crime and will have a opportunity to defend themselves in court. Another major difference being Utah's Senators are outraged and Oregon's Senator Wyden, after repeated complaints, is unwilling to stand up to the BLM.

At some point in time everything was considered sacred by somebody.
Where will it all end?
That being said, though:
Who gets off rooting around in old graves?

While the maximum penalty should be applied to those who broke the law, it is the method of the arrests that is being debated: Remember Ruby Ridge, Waco, and Pine Ridge? The BATF, FBI, and other federal agencies are goon squads much like the Nazi SS who ride roughshod over the rights of citizens. Was this level of force necessary to round up many elderly, non-violent criminals? I think not.