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Randy Parraz sues Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio
by DA Morales on Aug. 17, 2010, under Civil rights, Election 2010, Headline news, political news, Press releasePARRAZ SUES MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF ARPAIO
Official announcement set for press conference Wed., August 18 at 10am.
WHAT
Randy Parraz speaking against Sheriff Arpaio
Randy Parraz, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate will hold a press conference in front of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to announce and officially hand-deliver his lawsuit against Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office for his 2008 false arrest. The federal lawsuit asks for damages for abuse of process, malicious arrest, and malicious prosecution. The relationship between Sheriff Arpaio and Mr. Parraz goes back to when Mr. Parraz led the creation of Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability (MCSA).
WHERE
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office – 100 W. Washington, Ste. 1900, Phoenix 85003
WHEN
Wednesday, August 18, 10am
WHO
Randy Parraz, co-founded MCSA – a coalition to expose the misplaced priorities, abusive practices and ineffective policies of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. From crime suppression sweeps that unfairly and unjustly targeted the Hispanic community, to the harassment of citizens, elected officials, county employees and judges who took positions in opposition to Sheriff Arpaio, MCSA lead the way to hold Arpaio and the Board of Supervisors accountable for their actions.
HISTORY OF EVENTS
Randy Parraz v. Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Randy Parraz, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona, has been a leader in holding Sheriff Joe Arpaio of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) accountable for his illegal and abusive practices, including violating people’s rights and using his authority to punish and intimidate political rivals and persons. Additionally, Arpaio has cost the taxpayers of Maricopa County millions of dollars. http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/09/arizona.tough.sheriff/index.html
Two years ago, in the spring of 2008, Parraz helped launch Maricopa Citizens for Safety and Accountability http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48436029644 to expose Sheriff Arpaio’s abuses of power, including racial profiling. Parraz led a delegation of about a hundred MCSA members before the Board of Supervisors demanding they address Sheriff Joe’s actions.
At prior meetings, MCSA and its members had requested that their concerns regarding the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office be placed on the County Board of Supervisor’s agenda for formal discussion. Members of the organization had become frustrated by the failure of the Board to address their concerns. Maricopa County Security Staff and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office met several times to discuss actions to be taken against and in response to MCSA and its members – in particular Randy Parraz whom they referred to as the “ring leader” and “puppet.”
On September 29, 2008, Mr. Parraz spoke up at a Board of Supervisors meeting without being recognized by the Supervisor Board Chairman Andrew Kunasek. His six second statement was in regard to the request that the Board of Supervisors place certain issues on their agenda for public consideration. Following the event, in a clear attempt to intimidate the Maricopa citizens’ group, Arpaio’s Sheriff Deputies arrested Parraz because of the views he expressed and his leadership role within the community. The arrest was video taped.
One Court has already found the arrest to be illegal.
Since then Parraz has filed a civil law suit against Maricopa County in an effort to hold Sheriff Arpaio as fully accountable as possible.
As Senator, Randy Parraz will continue to be an advocate for holding elected officials for accountable for waste and illegal abuse of power.
August 18th, 2010 on 1:27 am
Ohhh my god we should be afraid of Parraz suing him…….LOL
August 18th, 2010 on 6:19 am
Well, Little Joe and the MCSO has been sued numerous times and MC has paid out millions to settle. So, while you might not be afraid, I think Little Joe has reason for concern. Especially given that others involved in the same incident have already sued and prevailed.
August 17th, 2010 on 8:29 pm
I dont think my last comment made it through so I’ll try again. Did you hear about a city called La Porte Indiana where the police went around a neighborhood asking everybody for their I.D.’s? Some people were wondering what was going on and if it had to do with Arizona’s SB 1070. There were no protests, no racial profiling, and no lawsuits, no problems. Matter as a fact some residents were happy about it.
http://www.wndu.com/hometop/headlines/100950199.html
August 17th, 2010 on 9:07 pm
So long as they did this in Paradise Valley, I’d be OK with it.
August 17th, 2010 on 7:42 pm
I thought he and others had already won a judgement against the MCSO. Anyway, good on him! He has my vote.
August 17th, 2010 on 7:45 pm
That lawsuit was separate from Randy’s, but you are right, then did win recently.