A 33-year-old Colorado Springs woman has been questioned about a telephone call that sparked a raid at the polygamist Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound in western Texas two weeks ago. Rozita Swinton was arrested at her home Wednesday night by Colorado Springs police for an incident that occurred in February. Members of the Texas Rangers were also in Colorado Springs as part of their investigation.
"The Texas Rangers were in Colorado Springs (Wednesday) as part of their investigation involving the compound in Texas. They left and have not filed any charges on Rozita Swinton as of this time," said Colorado Springs police spokesman Lt. Skip Arms.
Colorado Springs police said the arrest warrant has been sealed and refused to release any other details, reported Deseret News.
Swinton posted $20,000 bail at the El Paso County Jail and was released.
"She does have some history with Colorado Springs Police of making prior false calls to police," Arms told KRDO Radio in Colorado Springs.
According to KDRO, Swinton's arrest was for a false call to police in February. A young girl named "Jenifer" claimed she was being held hostage in a basement, causing Colorado Springs police to spend most of the day searching more than a dozen homes.
KUSA-TV, Denver, reported Swinton was arrested in Castle Rock, Colo., two years ago for making a false report.
Texas authorities launched their raid on the compound after receiving a warrant based on a phone call from a girl named "Sarah" who called for help, claiming she was pregnant and living inside the compound with her 49-year-old abusive husband.
Flora Jessop, an outspoken ex-member of the FLDS group, told KUSA-TV she believes Swinton may have been the person she spoke with by phone, who claimed to be Sarah's twin sister.
She said the woman she believes is Rozita Swinton called again Thursday morning after Swinton bailed out of the El Paso County Jail.
"I did get her to admit to me her name was Rose," Jessop said.
Texas lawmakers have defended the removal of 416 children from the polygamous sect's ranch and the separation of older children from their mothers.
"I'm so proud of our state for acting in the manner it has acted," said state Rep. Drew Darby, of San Angelo, earlier this week. Texas' motto, he said, ought to be changed to "Don't mess with the children of Texas."
Poster Comment:
Some scapegoat has to suffer to cover the crimes committed by the State of Texas against this religious group.