I do think CPS believed the call was real- and whether or not they thought it was real they have to investigate that sort of thing anyway. I do think the sheriff knew or should have known the call was a hoax before going in- he spoke to the man named in the warrant and LEO does have the means to verify such things if he didn’t believe that was the man he spoke to- as he claims now. The call was traced after the fact and could have been traced before all the children were removed. The disputed underage mothers that turned out to be adults- their ID could have been verified sooner too- I know for a fact birth certificates and drivers licenses can be verified in a matter of hours if LEO needs it done quickly.
I know that sounds terribly prmitive, but it appears to be the truth.
As far as driver's licenses are concerned, they may be purchased. Our own DMV in Virginia found itself having issued numerous bad drivers licenses to the 9/11 hijackers.
Unless a driver's license conforms to the new federal standards it doesn't mean a thing, and probably won't even let you in the front door at the post office.
If the perp wasn't in Texas, that certainly eliminated the imminent danger part, and the justification for taking the children.
I know for a fact birth certificates and drivers licenses can be verified in a matter of hours if LEO needs it done quickly.
Hours? Even on a dial up connection I bet it wouldn't take more than a few seconds. The problem was that the LEO's and CPS were already convinced of the guilt of the FLDS and anything that might dispute that guilt was not considered credible. The term is called True Believer Syndrome.