Man who helped runaway arrested
 Truman Barlow Shapley held overnight on charge of violation of a protective order
 
By Jane Zhang
jzhang@thespectrum.com
 
ST. GEORGE -- A man who reportedly helped a 16-year-old girl run away from Colorado City was arrested Sunday night in Hildale but was released after a justice court appearance on Monday.

Truman Barlow Shapley, 23, was kept overnight in Purgatory Correctional Facility after he was arrested by Colorado City police on a charge of protective order violation, according to Washington County Sheriff's Office.

He was transported Monday morning to Moccasin Justice Court, where he was released for an unspecified reason, said Trish Carter, spokeswoman for Mohave County Sheriff's Office, which she said was not involved in the case.

Colorado City and Hildale's Town Marshal Sam Roundy didn't return The Spectrum's call for comment Monday.

Flora Jessop, an anti-polygamy activist in Phoenix who ran away from Colorado City 17 years ago, said Shapley was arrested while helping the 17-year-old girl run away again on Sunday night.

Liz Barker, communications director for the Arizona Child Protective Services, which is monitoring the girl's situation, confirmed that the girl was at home on Tuesday. But she would not comment on the girl's second attempt to runaway.

The girl, who had run away once with Shapley on Jan. 17, was returned to Colorado City, Ariz., after spending two weeks in Utah and Arizona state custody.

She had obtained a protective order against her father, claiming he beat her with a willow branch, causing a bump on her head and a welt on her back. But officials from both Arizona and Utah's child protective services said they found no abuse.

Her father, who denied her allegations, said Monday that his daughter was doing well, but would not comment further.

"The system has failed her twice, twice there in two weeks," Jessop said.

The Center for Children's Justice, a Denver-based nonprofit, has shown interest in filing a lawsuit against the Arizona CPS on the girl's behalf, she said.
 
TheSpectrum.com
Originally published Wednesday, February 11, 2004
 
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