|
 U.S. District Judge Murray Snow issued the order at an emergency
hearing he convened after a court-appointed monitor reported that
the sheriff’s office had failed to turn over information being
sought in connection with the case.
In a brief order, Snow required that 1,459 identifications
apparently taken from people by sheriff’s deputies during law
enforcement actions and which were about to be destroyed be produced
for federal marshals.
The judge also ordered that computer hard drives, documents and
other materials related to an investigation involving the judge by a
confidential informant be given to marshals by the end of the day on
Friday.
Arpaio, the longtime Maricopa County sheriff, did not attend the
last-minute afternoon hearing held in U.S. District Court in
Phoenix.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Officer Chris Hegstrom said in a
statement that it would be inappropriate to comment at this time,
but added that the “truth will come out during the hearing process.”
U.S. Marshal David Gonzales told Reuters that the information
ordered by the court had been seized by early on Friday night.
Snow, who has become increasingly frustrated with the sheriff’s
office in recent months, has mandated that all information be
preserved as the case heads into a second round of contempt of court
hearings.
Arpaio and other current and former employees face civil contempt
hearings scheduled to begin in September for repeatedly violating
court orders relating to the long-standing case. Arpaio already has
acknowledged he has committed civil contempt.
[to top of second column] |
Possible punishment includes fines, restitution and increased
oversight by the court monitor. They also could be charged with
criminal contempt.
The court-ordered seizures represent another turning point in a case
that was originally filed by civil and immigrant rights groups in
2007.
In 2013, Snow ruled that Arpaio and his deputies racially profiled
Latino drivers during traffic stops and wrongfully detained them, a
finding that the sheriff vigorously disputes.
The judge also ordered changes to the sheriff’s office and appointed
a monitor to oversee operations and prevent any such repeats.
A civil rights lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department continues
against Arpaio and his deputies, but both sides are trying to settle
the case.
(Reporting by David Schwartz in Phoenix; Editing by Dan Whitcomb in
Los Angeles)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
