In a case that has cost Maricopa County$41 million in court fees over the past 8 years, Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio and three of his deputies were held in civil contempt in a courtroom on Friday. The ongoing racial profiling case has seen many ups and downs over the years, but court documents from Friday’s hearing may be hinting that this fiasco is almost over:
“In short, the 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.”
Even Arpaio’s right-hand-man, Jerry Sheridan agreed that he had not done the right thing in allowing Arpaio’s immigration policies to run. He was supposed to implement an injunction that would put an end to the controversial sweeps that tore many families apart and cost the country hundreds of thousands. He was found in contempt alongside Arpaio.
Arpaio says that the reason he ignored an injunction set in place by a federal judge was because he didn’t understand it. Arpaio said he respected the court and:
“It hurts me, after 55 years, to be in this position.”
According to KTAR News, the injunction that Arpaio ignored was pretty clear:
“A federal judge ruled nearly three years ago that Arpaio’s officers profiled Latinos. The judge ordered a series of changes at the agency, such as training on making constitutional traffic stops and requiring officers to wear body cameras.”
A court monitor keeping track of the progress made by Arpaio and his deputies says that they are only 38 percent in compliance with the court order’s request for operational changes, and 61 percent in compliance with the order to change policies.
A new court date for the hearing has been set for May, 31st. It will be then that Arpaio will have to prove that he is complying with the orders. During the Friday hearing, Arpaio appeared subdued, possibly from finally reaching an understanding that he faces big legal issues if this case doesn’t go in his favor.
http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/05/13/breaking-racist-sheriff-joe-arpaio-and-3-deputies-found-in-civil-contempt-in-racial-profiling-case/