Lawsuit alleges PCSO Misconduct

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

By Zach Richter Southeast Valley Ledger 

On Sept. 14, 2012 the Law Office of Alan K. Wittig filed a civil rights complaint in the US District Court of Arizona on behalf of Jimmy and Dorsey Gradis against Pinal County, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Paul Babeu and Deputies C. Todd, P. Dudish, M. White, T. Carter, R. Skedel and J. Poterson.

The complaint states, “On or about October 4, 2011, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department, there was a report of a black man outside his home shooting at dogs with a shotgun [at the plaintiff’s address].”

The Southeast Valley Ledger spoke with Attorney Alan Wittig about the case and what his clients have done in the intervening year.

“There had been negotiations between the County Insurance Fund to determine whether there would be a settlement prior to the proceedings,” Wittig said. “It’s the usual process; offers go back and forth for settlements kind of like a car accident.”

The complaint goes on to indicate that in responding to the call seven police offers surrounded the residence with their weapons drawn, held the family at gunpoint and searched the home without the homeowner’s consent.

The complaint alleges that in doing so the, “Deputies violated the Fourteenth and Fourth Amendment civil rights of the Plaintiffs under color of law. By the actions of the Deputies they also caused intentional and negligent emotional distress to the Plaintiffs.”

As a result, the complaints states the plaintiff is asking for an award of punitive damages in an amount believed by the Court to be appropriate in addition to costs, expenses and attorney fees. They are also asking for the court to grant, “Additional and equitable and legal relief as it deems proper and just.”

Wittig clarified that the Gradis family would like a million dollars plus expenses.

“A case like this is fairly straightforward,” Wittig continued. “But of course the attorney’s on the part of the Sheriff’s department will want to depose my clients and I want to interview the deputies and so on and so forth. It may be six months or a year [before the case sees a courtroom]. I hope they at least understand that I’m serious and we move forward fairly rapidly.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and the Pinal County Attorney’s Office declined to comment on complaint.

To comment on this article and others  visit the Copper Area News Facebook or send us an email at CBNSun@MinerSunBasin.com

admin (8132 Posts)


Facebooktwitterby feather
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Comments are closed.

  • Additional Stories

    Villalobos, 26 of Superior, and three others charged with attempted first degree murder

    November 25th, 2013
    by

    Florence– On Friday, November 15, Robert Villalobos, 26 of Superior, AZ, was arraigned and plead not guilty to eight felony […]


    Kitt Peak Visitor Center Launches Five Major New Public Programs

    November 8th, 2013
    by

    For Immediate Release: Tucson, Arizona. November 1, 2013. Visitors to Southern Arizona and residents alike can now enjoy  five (5) […]


    Florence Copper to Replace a Point of Compliance Monitoring Well

    November 7th, 2013
    by

    Florence– Florence Copper Inc. is replacing one of the 31 existing Point of Compliance (“POC”) ambient water quality monitoring wells […]


    I-10 West closed near Picacho Peak for multiple crashes

    October 29th, 2013
    by

    Phoenix– Westbound Interstate 10 is closed this afternoon following multiple crashes in the Picacho Peak area, according to the Arizona […]


  • Additional Stories

    68 Year Old Man Shoots 22 Year Old Man after Finding him in Bed with his Wife

    October 21st, 2013
    by

    On Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 1 a.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call from an elderly […]


    Information people with Medicare should know

    September 17th, 2013
    by

    Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15-December 7, 2013) is the time when all people with Medicare are encouraged to review their […]


    Game and Fish Offers Reward in Illegal Killing of Mule Deer Doe

    September 6th, 2013
    by

    Mammoth– The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a reward of up to $1,250 reward for information leading to […]


    Home prices in Pinal remain steady over last quarter

    August 28th, 2013
    by

    FLORENCE, AZ – Home prices in Pinal County remained steady over the first two quarters of 2013. The average residential […]


  • Copperarea

  • Southeast Valley Ledger