Arizona Sheriff in Phoenix Targeted Hispanics, U.S. Asserts
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An Arizona sheriff’s department with a reputation for being tough on crime discriminated against Latinos through a pattern of unlawful stops, arrests and biased jail practices, the U.S. Justice Department said.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office engaged in a “pattern and practice of violating the Constitution” and federal law, Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general in charge of the civil rights division, said today in a telephone news briefing. The continuing investigation also revealed “serious concerns” that Sheriff Joe Arpaio, 79, and deputies didn’t investigate crimes adequately or provide police protection to the Latino community.