Judge: No racial profiling in MCSO raid


by KTAR Newsroom (August 29th, 2011 @ 5:52pm)

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A federal judged ruled Friday that Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office did not commit racial profiling when they raided a Phoenix landscaping business.

Celia Alvarez sued the MCSO after the February 11, 2009 raid of Handyman Maintenance, Inc. She was arrested on suspicion of document forgery, identity theft and being in the country illegally.

She claimed that she was unlawfully detained and strip-searched by MCSO officers, who had also allegedly used excessive force during her arrest.

The federal court found in favor of MCSO after stating that Alvarez had not provided any evidence in support of her claims.

"Document forgery and identity theft are not victimless crimes. The fact that such crimes may be committed by illegal aliens in Maricopa County will not stop me from properly enforcing the law. I am very pleased that the federal court recognized that my deputies follow the constitution to its letter and spirit when they enforce Arizona law," Arpaio said in a press release.

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