‘Sheriff Joe’ Arpaio held in civil contempt for ignoring judge’s orders



Joe Arpaio claims to be “America's Toughest Sheriff,” but now he’s seeing the criminal justice system from the other side. On Friday, a federal judge ruled Arpaio to have been in civil contempt of the court for ignoring the judge’s orders to end racial profiling.

The contempt charges were based on three alleged violations, AZ Central reported: failure to hand over video evidence that was necessary for the racial-profiling trial, continued enforcement of immigration law despite Judge Snow’s orders to stop and Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan’s failure to collect evidence as he had been ordered to do.

'Toughest sheriff in America' Joe Arpaio under fire for warrantless arrests of critics in the middle of the night http://t.co/bqt2k1e8
— RT America (@RT_America) August 30, 2012

The 82-year-old Arpaio claimed that he did not willfully ignore Judge Snow’s orders – and the court appointed monitor’s orders – but rather misunderstood them.

District Judge G. Murray Snow has some history with Arpaio, who has been in and out of court since 2007 for charges related to racial profiling. In 2011, Judge Snow ordered Phoenix’s sheriff to stop using traffic stops as a way of conducting immigration sweeps in Latino neighborhoods.

It all began when Manuel de Jesus Ortega Melendres, a Mexican tourist, was detained for nine hours by Arpaio’s deputies, despite being in the country legally. Melendres filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union and was joined by others. In 2013, Snow appointed a court monitor to ensure that Arpaio and his deputies complied with his orders.

Three years later, Judge Snow found that Arpaio has not done so.

"[T]he Court finds that the Defendants have engaged in multiple acts of misconduct, dishonesty, and bad faith with respect to the Plaintiff class and the protection of its rights. They have demonstrated a persistent disregard for the orders of the Court, as well as an intention to violate and manipulate the laws and policies regulating their conduct…”’ he wrote.

Arpaio is not the only one named in the lawsuit. Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan, retired Chief Brian Sands and Lt. Joe Sousa each were found in contempt as well.

So far, Phoenix taxpayers have shelled out $41 million in legal costs over the past eight years and are expected to pick up an addition $13 million in fees, KTAR reported.

Supervisor Steve Gallardo told KTAR that the money could have gone to flood-control improvements or giving raises to county employees who haven’t received one in four years. Arpaio’s salary is $100,000, and he owns $2 million in commercial real estate, according to KTAR.

Although he has not had to use any of his own money yet, Arpaio will be forced to pay for his own defense lawyers in relation to the contempt proceedings. He has reached out to supporters for donations.

http://www.rt.com/usa/342990-joe-arpiao-contempt-charges/

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2016/05/13/arpaio-contempt-federal-court-ruling/77833232/
* Video, Many pics, History Of Legal Issues *

http://ktar.com/story/1071671/cost-to-metro-phoenix-taxpayers-for-sheriff-joe-arpaios-profiling-case-keep-climbing/

I love Sheriff Joe,
Where would Arizona be with out him ?
I personally think he is being targeted. Many Sheriffs are.

Wakey Wakey

[On Friday, a federal judge ruled Arpaio to have been in civil contempt of the court for ignoring the judge’s orders to end racial profiling.]

Seems a clear case of contempt to me, or is this sheriff above the law?

You may want to check a map of Illegal migration from Mexico to states like Texas & Arizona.
I think as an American living down there & as a Sheriff, he knows what to look for.

Which IS exactly the problem.
He is doing his job & powerful people don't like that.
We have Sheriffs being harassed & persecuted all over the country.
That damn Constitution & Bill of Rights & our privileges.. Gets in the way.. *Sarcasm*, because they only apply to Americans.

This is what happens when you speak out against Obama. You face a lengthy investigation for doing your job and one of his Federal Judges that he appoints nails you.

I guess Sheriff Arpaio is lucky he is dealing with an amateur like Obama and not a Clinton. They don't even bother with the courts, they would just pull a Vince Foster on him.

That's ok. If anything comes of this President Trump will just pardon him and make him head of ICE or Homeland Security!

Obama Admin has been after his Scalp for time!

#ArpaioIsLawAndJustice

Insufficient evidence presented here to make a judgment about the sheriff.

However, there is plenty of evidence that people are opposed to the rule of law, and instead support rule by self-righteousness. That's anti-American, and I AM opposed to that.

to be a good man is not easy.....godbless you all.....

disregarding Unconstitutional laws is Unamerican?

Insufficient evidence presented here to make a judgment about the sheriff.
-------------
Sheriff Joe is no Saint. But he is the best we have. He was voted in 7-8 times. The PEOPLE love him. To others he obviously is a threat.

However, there is plenty of evidence that people, are opposed to the rule of law, and instead support rule by self-righteousness. That's anti-American, and I AM opposed to that.

#MakeAmericaGreatAgain

Edited for targeting of other members,
kindly stay on topic.

soufie
Site Moderator

* Old policing by 82 year old, /next