Reader comments
Attorney general defends relics raid

Prosecute them but also understand that this lawlessness was bred into them by past generations of people. Do more than slap their wrists but be caring about it.

The wing-nuts in Utah are having cows about these raids. Self-serving Hatch and Chafetz are making as much political hay as they can, grandstanding to the "base" at every opportunity. What happened to the good old "Law & Order" boys. I guess those laws are for illegal aliens, same sex couples, liberals and drug users and not the citizens of the state of Utah.

Mr. Hatch fails to understand that an arrest of ANY kind is a highly emotional experience and ANY (violence) can happen even if the arestee is a precious Physician. Are Doctors immune from being violent? At the end of the day the goal is for the Law Enforcement to go hom safely. Mr Redd took his own life, a choice he made after he committed several felony offences.

I feel that the Fed's did a great job!

Hatch, et al, have shown their obvious bias towards their fellow WHITE man by being upset about this Federal Raid, but when the Federals raided a tortilla factory in SLC, neither Hatch nor Bennit said a word about it.

Funny how that is

So, enfocrce the law against others but not for yourself. Immigration is a perfect example. Hatch is leading a political show on this.

That's the way cops do things nowadays. He's not aware of this? The Feds and especially Utah police state and local routinely suit for battle for non-violent offenses. Sometimes it proves necessary, often it is not. Often it turns what would be a non-violent situation into an armed showdown. This is an issue that needs to be addressed both locally and nationally. What level of risk will we allow police to assume? If a child, dog, or something else gets shot up or destroyed has it been worth it?

Just don't feign surprise. Its disingenuous.

At least the grave raiders can rest assured they have high-profile supporters defending their illegal activities. Dont do the crime, if you cant do the time.

Shouldn't theives be investigated and prosecuted. What if they were going to the local cemetary and raiding coffins, there would justifiable outrage.

This community has always been against the BLM, Feds, anyone who slaps their hand when they do wrong. Laws are made for everyone else, not this community.

I am sadden about the circumstances, surrounding this raid.
One question on my mind, when the doctor and others, committed this crime on Federal Land, knew better.
Why in the world didn't they get permission-signed release,
before digging.
There is plenty of blame on both sides, not doing there home work first.
Is this a Reckless-Hide situation, hoping to get away thing?
I don't think so.

it is time for me to look for another church to attend as i have to pt out the truth to my children as i try to live it for my children. When any members are condoned for illegal activities of digging up the dead yet preaches on the other hand the importance of the lamnanite that is totally disrespectful. Not one church leader has come forward condemning the cultural mistreatment of the many natives here in Blanding. The attitude of having special rigths for certain families is quite apprarent yet if we dug up any of the pioneer graves around here there would be an uproar! If the principal was involved in a threatening manner to the law officers than that clearly states the frame of mind of those involved and he should be reprimanded. But the double standards always apply down this way and the racism is quite the norm if one just reads the comments of many of the people of the two papers. The spirit of the ancients have clearly spoken as they are angry and don't recognize name or status in community , leave them alone!Redemption can be cruel!!

I appreciate Hatchs attempts to support his constituents, but his arguments seem flawed.

Hatch says that the suicide and fully geared officers destroyed the good feelings the Blanding community had toward the government. First, he assumes the community did have good feelings toward the government. One might think that as an elected representative of our state for many years that he might understand that most southern Utah communities do not necessarily have good feelings toward the government. Rather, they find government too big and intrusive. Second, he seems to be insinuating that the suicide, and its consequent ill will, is a result of the government or its emissaries. Thus, Hatch is largely abdicating personal responsibility for the action. Third, might not the communitys anger stem more from the entire episode and not simply how the arrests were made?

Hatch says he understands why threat of force might be used against drug dealers and people who clearly are violent felons, but not in this case. Does Hatch not realize that at least three of the individuals arrested had prior drug convictions? With all due respect to Dr. Redd and his family, if one is suicidal they are likely not emotionally stable, and if theyre capable of killing themselves they may well be capable of killing others. (In no way do I want to claim that Dr. Redd was capable of killing anyone else, but how is one to know?) An officer never knows what might be behind a door. They deserve the benefit of doubt.

Hatch wants to question the motives of some of the higher-ups. I dont know their motives, but they seem to be exacting the law. Is that a questionable motive? Hatch says that "I felt like it was a dog and pony show, and I know one when I see it." This I believe, because at the exact moment Hatch made the statement I believe he was all tangled up with those dogs and ponies.

for taking care of ALL America's land not just some!!

Yeah, Hatch sure does know a dog and pony show when he sees one because that's exactly what he's doing right now stirring up more and more ill will against these arrests.

Furthermore, Hatch's argument that less force should have been used because these people are community pillars is the EXACT attitude that gets officers killed in the line of duty. Just because one guy operates a good medical practice is no indication of sound mental capacity - proven by the fact that he later committed suicid.

These were arrests and raids for federal felony offenses against individuals under investigation for more than two years. Many of these individuals have prior records for both drugs and artifacts offenses (including Dr. Redd).

You better believe force will be used when conducting a task such as this. If it were my wife, husband, daughter or son on involved in this operation I would expect that all potential for danger be evaluated and eliminated to ensure their safety.

What Hatch is doing is an arrogant and disgusting slap in the face to these individuals who put their lives on the line every day in the service of theiry country and communities.

So, by Hatch's argument, all our troops in Iraq should politely knock on doors and say 'please, may I" when conducting raids on homes because there might be other people who are innocent inside and those homes might technically belong to community pillars of that area.

I cannot believe he is seriously touting this BS. These people are being arrested for federal felonies. If they don't want their families traumatized then they shouldn't be allegedly committing these crimes.

The fact that warrants were obtained to conduct not only arrests but also searches tells me the feds have quite a bit of convincing evidence of crimes being committed.

What's worse is many of these people are repeat offenders and somehow they think they deserve some sort of courtesy. How about they start apologizing for all the tax payer resources that have been spent because their self arrogance makes them think they are above the law.

I hope these people were scared while being arrested or during the search of their homes. Maybe that will finally get through their thick skulls that breaking the law is wrong even if you don't agree with what the law states.

You just lost my vote. How do you like them apples?

I know you won't print this,,,but Mormon crooks should get the same treatment as anyone else.

These grave robbers are very much like some of the people in the South who abuse minority people. They became so accustomed to it they became desensitized as to what was right or wrong