SAN ANGELO, Texas — Police wore body armor, toted automatic weapons and were backed by an armored personnel carrier for a raid on a West Texas polygamist retreat, photos and video released Tuesday show.
Four still photos and a slice of video were released by a spokesman for the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A sect member whose wife shot the video said sect members got the impression that state officials “were doing something more than they said they were going to do.”
The man declined to give his name for fear that speaking out would cause problems for his children, who are in state custody.
Tela Mange, a state Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, said officers are trained to protect themselves.
“Whenever we serve a search warrant, no matter where or when, we are always as prepared as possible so we can ensure the operational safety of the officers serving the warrant, as well as the safety of those who are on the property in question,” Mange said.
