Randy Parraz Lawsuit Vs. Maricopa County Over '08 Arrest Can Proceed, Judge Rules

By Ray Stern Tue., Feb. 5 2013 at 2:14 PM

Randy Parraz, anti-Arpaio activist, is suing the county because of a questionable 2008 arrest by deputies. Yesterday, a federal judge rejected a county motion to dismiss the case.

A lawsuit filed by activist Randy Parraz against Maricopa County following his 2008 arrest outside the Board of Supervisors Auditorium can move ahead, a federal judge ruled yesterday.

Parraz was arrested on September 29, 2008, after he and members of his group, Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability, held a demonstration at a Supervisors' meeting to protest abuses by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and were asked to leave. As yesterday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver explains, though, (see below), Parraz was arrested after he'd already left the downtown Phoenix auditorium, a public building, and was standing outside. A dispute remains as to whether Arpaio's deputies had probable cause to arrest Parraz on suspicion of trespassing and disorderly conduct, Silver wrote.

Her ruling was made in response a motion for summary judgment made by the county, which had argued that deputies were justified in arresting Parraz. The ruling includes a transcript of a videotaped conversation between Parraz and deputies that preceded his arrest, which reveal that when Parraz asked why he was being asked to leave the spot outside the building and what law he was breaking, a deputy answered, "It doesn't matter."

Image: Courtesy of Dennis Gilman

Captain David Letourneau reportedly called Parraz a "coward," a court ruling in Parraz's lawsuit states.

Parraz had exited the building immediately after being asked to do so by deputies, records show. But he refused to budge from a taped-off area just outside the doors. The area had been cordoned off with yellow tape to ease access for people exiting and entering the building. A small group of deputies converged on him, reportedly pushing aside other activists as they approached.

In his lawsuit, Parraz "alleges his arrest was politically motivated and he was singled out for arrest for his perceived role as 'ringleader' of MCSA," records state. He had stopped outside the building for about 35 seconds to talk with deputies "only to determine the basis for his removal from the premises," Silver wrote.

The videotaped exchange went down as follows:

Plaintiff: What law's been broken?
Deputy: It doesn't matter.
Plaintiff: Yes it does.
Deputy: [Inaudible. It appears the deputy is asking Plaintiff to
move.]
Plaintiff: I said no. What law's been broken? I said no. I said no,
what's the law being broken?
Deputy: Okay guy, we asked you to leave.
Plaintiff: We left.
Deputy: Okay, once you're escorted out, you are trespassing . . .
Plaintiff: No, no, trespassing's in the building.
Deputy: You gotta go out there, okay?
Deputy: [Inaudible, it appears a deputy is saying, "The property."]
Plaintiff: This is a public place.
Deputy: Sir, you're being told to leave this area.
Plaintiff: I was told to leave the meeting. I left the meeting. Give
me a break. I left the meeting.
Deputy: Either leave now, or you're gonna get arrested.
Deputy: Step down, or you'll be arrested.
Plaintiff: Why do I have to move? What's the broken law?
Deputy: He's a 42.
Deputy: [Multiple deputies speaking, it appears one says, "You're
under arrest."]
Plaintiff: For what?
Deputy: Trespassing.
Plaintiff: I'm leaving.
Deputy: Too late now.
Plaintiff: I'm walking away, what are, what are you guys talking
about?

Parraz was then "handcuffed, walked to another area where his belongings were invoiced, then shackled in leg irons and a belly chain." Deputies booked him into the Fourth Avenue jail.

Tags:

arizona, arrest, lawsuit, maricopa county, randy parraz, sheriff joe arpaio

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Sat: 9:00AM-2:00PM

Sun: 1:00PM-3:00PM

4. Ironwood (Auwatukee) 4333 E Chandler Blvd

Sat: 10:00AM-1:00PM

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Sun: 1:00PM-5:00PM

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Sat, February 9 from 10:00AM to 3:00PM.

Please sign the petition to recall Sheriff Arpaio, and please help us circulate these petitions.

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

This is just another frivolous and baseless lawsuit. Because the incident was staged by the plaintiff to get notoriety and a payout he will get nothing.

car_del99

1 Like

@JoeArpaioFan when someone says " shit has hit the fan " are they talking about you ?

car_del99

1 Like

@JoeArpaioFan Do you get paid to be stupid or is it in your genes ?

BTW.. don't use the toilet too much, every time you use it part of your brain is being flushed

david_saint01 topcommenter

1 Like

@JoeArpaioFan lol you dont know shit..for instance, the fact that the deputies mistook Chad Snow for Randy and arrested him without cause before they eventually arrested Randy...because word had been passed down to arrest him either way. Why do you think he got involved...Also of note, is that arpaio had a riot crew in full gear ready to pounce at any hint of dissent.

MaskedMagician1967

1 Like

@JoeArpaioFan

You mean like the 10,000+ lawsuits that resulted in a substantial payout or the 6,000+ lawsuits still pending against your hero, mentor and savior the Flaccid Failure?

WhoKnows topcommenter

1 Like

@JoeArpaioFan Robert, you sad little lemming!

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

@WhoKnows @JoeArpaioFan Aaah poor baby. I have only just begun.

david_saint01 topcommenter

1 Like

@JoeArpaioFan @WhoKnows lmao and so have I fan bia... ;)

donotrecall

1 Like

JoeAssFarts, just because your human pacifier Jose is a MEDIA WHORE trying to get notoriety for every little stunt, you think that everybody else does it. you are wrong, PUTO. BTW I hope You get run over and die at the scene.

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

@donotrecall But it's true, ParAss is a media whore. His arrest was a stunt to test MCSO. The arrest was justified! But if he truly did not want to be arrested he should not have asked for it.

david_saint01 topcommenter

1 Like

@JoeArpaioFan @donotrecall lmao wrong again little one..your deranged hero was doing his best Stalin imitation and had him arrested for daring to oppose him..

JohnQ.Public topcommenter

@donotrecall You should change your name to WeWillRecall because new comers to this blog may think that your name indicates that you are in favor of Arpaio remaining in office though the rest of us know otherwise.

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

@JohnQ.Public @donotrecall And you should change your name to John Q. Idiot!

Tommy_Collins

1 Like

The irony of this arrest incident is that Randy Parraz, while being passionate and driven about his beliefs, is still always the consumate professional. He was only asking the deputy to cite a violation of law that might actually be 'on the books'. Unfortunately in the eyes of some of those who worked for MCSO at the time there existed an informal law known as 'Contempt of MCSO', which doesn't really exist and for which neither reasonable suspicion or probable cause is needed. Unfortunately for MCSO and Maricopa County they are the only agency using that informal law, and there is no court, anyplace, that will uphold it.

Yet another payout will occur simply because someone wasn't in agreement with MCSO and was speaking out about the sheriff and asking the Board of Supervisors to be put on the public agenda.

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

@Tommy_Collins ParAss is an idiot. And yes he is a media whore. He staged his arrest for attention and notoriety and to hopefully get a payout but what else is new? Seems that the new trend with you liberals is to try and sue MCSO for every frivolous thing you can make up. Next you'll be staging traffic stops again and falsely claiming that because MCSO wasn't polite to you even though you called the officer every name in the book, that they owe you a million dollars.

bob_lablaw96 topcommenter

2 Like

@Tommy_Collins It would be really fair if only those that actually voted for this POS had to pay for lawsuits decided in favor of whomever files the suit. If Joe wins, the loser can pay the County costs, but if/when he loses, only "believers" are required to pay for the settlement.

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

@bob_lablaw96 @Tommy_Collins The only losers are people like you.

donotrecall

2 Like

Jaffy, how are your eyes doing, I heard that the Old Fool and the Hooker Beater were trying to feed you with both their dicks but instead they pocked you in the eyes, lol. you are a biatch. NWay I hope that you get AIDS and Cancer throat and then pass it to the Old Fool and the washed out fat ass seagal as well. What a cesspool, pfft!

Lone_Wolf

4 Like

Mr. Parraz has all the hard evidence on his hands. He will no doubt, win his case in court. The law was actually on his side while the true law breakers are Josef Eye-Pie-Hole's thugs in beige.

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

@Lone_Wolf Parraz has no hard evidence. Because he staged the incident on purpose he's got nothing coming. He will lose and he will be countersued.

WhoKnows topcommenter

2 Like

@JoeArpaioFan @Lone_Wolf Jaffy. Joke has lost MANY cases like this in the past. Now go make threats on your little website!

donotrecall

2 Like

JoeArpayasoFarts, since You are so sure that Mr. Parraz has no hard evidence and that he staged the incident why don't you go and present all your evidence to the court; since You have it, don't You? Otherwise STFO. Dirty asscocksucker.

david_saint01 topcommenter

2 Like

@JoeArpaioFan @donotrecall sure, thats why MCSO arrested Chad snow for no reason, other than the mistook him for Randy...lmao you really need to know what you are talking about first dumbass, you only make yourself out to be a complete and utter moron of the first order....or a ranting buffoon that doesnt know his head from his ass...

JoeArpaioFan topcommenter

1 Like

@donotrecall ParAss is an idiot. And yes he is a media whore. He staged his arrest for attention and notoriety and to hopefully get a payout but what else is new? Seems that the new trend with you liberals is to try and sue MCSO for every frivolous thing you can make up. Next you'll be staging traffic stops again and falsely claiming that because MCSO wasn't polite to you even though you called the officer every name in the book, that they owe you a million dollars.