ELDORADO, Texas (AP) - Law enforcement peacefully got access to a temple on the grounds of a polygamist compound in West Texas. Prosecutor Allison Palmer says there were tense moments Saturday night, but the situation remained calm.
NewsWest 9 has learned from Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter that the Midland County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team and APC have returned home after the raid in Eldorado.
NewsWest 9 has also learned that the Texas Rangers will remain on the site and continue their investigation and search for the 16-year-old girl that promoted the raid on the FLDS Ranch.
NewsWest 9's sister station in Waco, KXXV-TV, reports that a Central Texas organization has heard from the state and they're making preparations.
Sect leaders at a polygamist compound in West Texas refused today to let authorities search a temple for a teenage girl whose report of abuse led to the raid. Authorities also said they were preparing "for the worst."
Early Sunday, a bus that appeared to be filled with women were at the civic center south of town, where a lawyer and law-enforcement officials were talking with them. Click inside for all the developments that have taken place in this story.
ELDORADO, TEXAS - The latest out of Eldorado, no more information, a judge in San Angelo has issued a gag order. Law enforcement officials remain in Eldorado after raiding the compound of convicted Polygamist Leader Warren Jeffs on Friday. Officers from Midland, the Texas Rangers, and Child Protective Services descended on the compound Friday morning after allegations of abuse surfaced.
By Camaron Abundes
NewsWest 9
MIDLAND- An eight member SWAT Team from the Midland County Sheriff's office was in Eldorado, Friday, helping dozens of law enforcement agents from around Texas in a raid at the Fundamentalists Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound.
Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter says they also sent an armored personnel carrier to help gain access on the compound.
"They had the temple surrounded with their vehicles refusing to allow admittance. We rolled the armored personnel carrier up and they complied," said Sheriff Painter.
Sheriff Painter says his team worked with about 60 other law enforcement agents to search the buildings on the compound.
"We have information, young people, females, that are in the compound some of them might be held against their will others that may have been used as sex tools or whatever you want to call it. Some of them have children, these young ladies are sixteen or under," Painter said.
