Sheriff Joe Arpaio Faces New Lawsuits Over Last Year's Arrest of Demonstrators at Jail; One Protester Claims He was Beaten by Guards

• As usual, you are arrogant in your ignorance. Legal observers observe, but do not participate in demonstrations and protests. I have not referred to any exception to any law. Don't be an ass. According to suits filed separately by both legal observers, they were not blocking the sallyport doors and were not disobeying police orders. Which is likely why charges against both of them were dismissed.  If you want to know the basis for their lawsuits, read the filings.

• What is a legal observer an where are they granted immunity from law enforcement when they break the law? Show me the link to the exception to the law you are repeatedly referring to. Patel can say what she wants, she was arrested after refusing to move from the sallyport doors at 4th ave. Her lawsuit is frivolous and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

• According to Orrell's lawsuit, the charges against her were also dismissed. So that makes at least two out of the four listed in this article whose charges were already dropped. Both legal observers who were not participants in the protest and who claim they were targeted by police, likely because they were videotaping the incident. Yeah, they've got a good lawsuit going. Arpayaso doesn't care, it's your money, not his.

•  No, by their own admission they were NOT in the wrong, which is why they are suing. The charges were dropped because the charges were likely bullshit and would not stick. Two of those arrested were not even protesters, they were legal observers who were not participating in the action. And if the charges were upheld, they would surely still be suing.

• Your sources are apparently full of shit, since you claim all of the protesters have been convicted. Of the 40 or so originally charged, ten were convicted AFTER THIS ARTICLE WAS POSTED, five cases are still under review and the rest of the charges have been dropped. 

•  Your facts suck . You said that all of the protesters were convicted. This article was posted on August 1. You are citing an article dating August 2. Stern's information was factual and accurate as of the date that he reported it. Got any evidence that the four protesters who are the subject of this article were all convicted? If not, you were full of shit and you are still full of shit.

• Obviously my sources are more reliable than a 2 month old court document and a story from an out of state newspaper article. You should break away from your google addiction and do some real investigative work Stern...and that is why your product sucks!

• Stark=Stern

• Actually, the article I am referring to is from yesterday. In the article from an Arizona newspaper instates that 10 of the 15 defendants were found guilty of their charges. The other 5 were taken under advisement. Now that is in stark contrast to what Stark is reporting. The court document that Stark is referring to is dated June 6, 2011. The document asks that the charges be dismissed "without prejudice". I will not take the time to explain what exactly that means, however, it is a tactic used by the county prosecutors for a plethora of reasons and outcomes. Her charges being dismissed June 6 allow for them to be refiled June 7. Stark proved nothing with his links and, in fact, discovered I was right and he was wrong when the Arizona republic scooped him on the convictions. Perhaps you should return to describing how others can eat your fecal matter in clever ways, it seems to suit you better than debating facts.

• Stern's facts are a link to the court document dismissing charges against Sunita Patel.  And an article from yesterday's Boston Herald saying the judge had not yet rendered a decision. YOU, OTOH, are apparently referring to a JANUARY 11 article in AZCentral stating that the demonstrators were contesting their fines. That does not mean they were found guilty. That means they were convicted, that means they contested the charges. You've got nothing. STFU and get back on the short  bus.

• Read the azcentral article that is in stark contrast to sterns "facts"? Didn't think so.

• Her words, supported by the fact that charges against her were dismissed. Also supported by the fact that she was acting as a legal observer. Legal observers observe demonstrations, they do not participate in them. That is how they are trained, and it is essential to their role. All you have is bullshit. Ripe stinking crap. You have already been caught in a major lie; You claimed that they were all found guilty of charges stemming from the demonstration, and you got busted in that lie. Ray Stern has provided links proving that you lied. You are a troll and you have no credibility. Piss off.

• Hmm. Azcentral scooped you again!! Your product does suck Stern.

• Her words...You apparently believe everything you read that bolsters your position.

• I'm not referring to the people who were there specifically to block the sallyport, I'm referring to the two attorneys who made the "mistake" of stepping off the sidewalk or walking on the driveway to get the names of those arrested. There's no reason to arrest either of them--the cops were just being assholes, as cops often are to people who dare not obey their every word.

• "During her 15 hours in jail, Patel claims, deputies grilled her about her place of birth. She refused to answer their question, at first. A judge later ordered her to be released on her own recognizance, but jail staff told her she couldn't leave until they determined her immigration status, "at which she point she relented and responded to their questions," the lawsuit says. " Pure bullshit. As if they can determine somebody's immigration status by asking them about their place of birth. This was just a way to harass Patel. She should add false imprisonment to the list and seek additional money.

• Obviously. Or one of the voices in his head is lying to him. 

• Your comment sucks. And I just made you a steaming hot lunch. I ate it yesterday. You can eat it today. 

•  You are apparently unable to read. One of the protesters, a legal observer, did nothing more than step off the sidewalk, and then get back on the sidewalk.

• What's your source on that? The lawsuits say these four people had their cases were dismissed; court docs for Patel's dismissal can be found here: http://ccrjustice.org/files/AZ%20Protest%20Arrest%20Dismissal%20June%202011.pdf As of last night, a judge hadn't yet made a decision on the other cases. http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/southwest/view/20110802no_decision_yet_in_immigration_protest_trial/srvc=home&position=recent Are you just making shit up, Yousucks?

• Come get your food, Tina!

• Their rights to protest were never in jeopardy. The protest was hours long and continued even after the arrests of these four liars. They were arrested after willfully blocking the sallyport of the 4th avenue jail and remaining there after repeated lawful orders to leave. Everyone there that was arrested asked to be arrested and were obliged.

• Curious why this story omits the fact that those arrested for blocking the sallyport to the 4 avenue jail were all found guilty of the charges they were arrested for. All of the lies these four people are fabricating will be revealed since the events of each arrest were documented on video. Now continue frothing at the mouth over how Arpaio and his supporters are racist idiots. I apologize for interrupting your ignorant hate fest.

• Yes, he's crazy but what I don't understand is how many people around him, who let him get away with all this - how many other people can be crazy enough to allow it? Does he have some terrible thing to hold over their heads? ALL of them? Could he have an "in" with the powers that be? I wonder how many others will have to suffer from his poisoned mentality before SOMEONE - SOMEHOW puts a stop to it!

• It's time for those who support and vote for Arpaio to pay for the legal expenses and damage. They too have blood on their hands with the destroyed lives, families and children, no different then those serving life for having been present at a murder even though they didn't hold the weapon. We consider the vote to be a weapon. You chose to vote for Arpaio, the county sheriff, who has been allowed to create a culture of fear, retaliation and unnecessary death/loss of life.

• The one good thing about all this is that Arpaio is playing right into Dennis Burke's hands with all these lawsuits, the DOJ investigations, the consent decrees, the wrongful deaths, etc., etc.  One has to wonder when Burke will wake up from behind the wheel and actually prosecute Arpaio.

• Chalk up four more Abuse of Power charges to add to Arpaio's record, along with the punitive damage awards to accompany them.     I think MCSO  holds the national record for successful lawsuits filed against it -- in numbers and in dollar amount awards -- against any police agency in the nation. Cowardly Arpaio always goes after the easy pickin's,  too, just like the four or five who were arrested a a couple years ago....for doing no more than applauding a public anti-Arpaio speaker at an open public Board of Supervisors meeting.  Naturally, after their arrests were dismissed, they too filed for and received punitive damages.  

• I don't agree, at least not in this case, although to be fair neither of us know the whole truth. The point is that they do have every right to protest, observe, scream, raise signs, shout at people, etc. in the vicinity of the public disturbance and there's no reason they should be detained unless they're clearly causing a public disturbance or keeping the cops from doing their job (and their job is to protect and serve, period). This seems to be more of the same from these LEOs. Arrest or harass people and trump up BS charges to restore their order. They can always drop the charges later and risk a civil suit, but they seem ok with that around here. It's only taxpayer money.

• Welcome to Arizona, the most corrupt state in the United States. Typical AG Horne. He's a Republican who's covering his own ass so that Joe won't investigate him. Arpaio won't be sentenced until our U.S. Attorney, Dennis Burke, wakes up from behind the wheel and actually prosecutes this sick old man, which, BTW, Joe is actually bolstering Burke's case. Joe has gotten us sued 6300 times, with his legal fees costing us $50 million. I agree that Joe needs to be booted. My sources in Springfield, MA, where Joe is originally from, tell me he is not welcome there. I hope Joe & Co. get indicted soon. We need to be rid of these elected criminals.  

• You are biased, and probably as mentally challenged as arpio

• What in the world is going on out there? Is Phoenix located in America? Today I called the attorney general's office to find out about arpio's status, and the woman I spoke to didn't even know that there had been any complaints against him!!!!!!!  WHEN will this arpio cancer be sentenced? His department has been accused of causing numerous deaths, as well as unspeakable acts, traumatizing, humiliating and causing permanent injury to innocent victims. He has cost the county millions of dollars, and remains free to continue terrorizing the public. How many law suits has he caused? He is a psychotic, sadistic, arrogant, mean spirited person who is totally out of touch. Supposedly he is being investigated by the Feds, as well as other watch dogs, for years. I wonder if they are just waiting for him to die, or retire, or his term to run out? Does ANYONE know why he is still out there? Who is responsible for this hold up, and what if anything is THEIR vested interest?  This situation is outrageous!!!

• Where and when do we say "no more" to Arpaio and his ineptitute?  Why did he handle this situation in a manner which, again, resulted in no charges and made us liable for more lawsuits?  Just craziness.

• Sorry, but not everyone who sues has a case.  If you're too close to the line of confrontation in a situation like this then you're intellectually challenged.    They escalated their chances of becoming caught in the possibility of incarceration and prolonged detention.    They pushed that possibility into probability.    They deserve no compensation for being antagonists in a play for media attention.    

• Here we go again with more of Joe's bullshit lawsuits. I wonder how much money we taxpayers are going to pay the plaintiffs for the stupidity of the Flaccid Fool and his SS goon squads. We need to boot Joe out, just like we did with Senator Pearce. Both are mentally ill and delusional old men.

TotalComments: 34