Children seized from evangelist's compound

TEXARKANA, Texas, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Arkansas has taken custody of 37 children living at a Christian evangelist's compound, including 17 seized as they were driven away.

Tony Alamo has been charged with molesting teenage girls. On Monday, a court ordered the state Department of Human Services to remove children from the two compounds at Fort Smith and Fouke run by Tony Alama Christian Ministries, the Texarkana (Texas) Gazette reported.

State police and child welfare workers seized 20 children from the Fouke compound Tuesday. Troopers intercepted two sports utility vehicles in Texarkana with 17 more children, the newspaper said.

Alamo was arrested in Arizona in September and waived extradition to Arkansas. Born Bernie Hoffmann, Alamo and his wife, Susan, who has since died, founded the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation in 1969, the Gazette reported.