The death of a Laveen man's beloved puppy during a cockfighting raid has landed Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and action-star-turned-crime-fighter Steven Seagal in legal hot water, reports The Arizona Republic.
Jesus Sanchez Llovera filed a notice of claim, which signals the beginning of a lawsuit, with Maricopa County taxpayers for $25,000 and a public apology from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and Seagal for the death of his beloved family pet. Llovera claims he suffered humiliation, emotional distress and property damage from their high-profile cockfighting raid of his home in March.
Llovera alleges that he was a simple chicken farmer and not the leader of an illegal cockfighting operation. In addition, the overuse of force during the raid, including the reported involvement of a tank, led to the shooting of his 11-month-old puppy and the death of more than 100 roosters.
Former action star Seagal was involved in the March raid as a member of the Sheriff Joe's Illegal Immigration Enforcement posse and was taping the cockfighting raid for his A&E television show "Steven Seagal: Lawman," according to The Republic.
Llovera was arrested on suspicion of 115 felony counts of owning, possessing, keeping or training roosters with the intent to fight after the raid. Although the cockfighting case is still pending, suspects have the right to sue law enforcement if the arrest process violated their civil rights. This includes the improper use of force, malicious prosecution, and false arrest.
Officers, however, have a qualified immunity defense which protects them from legal claims stemming from an arrest if they used reasonable force. The video taken of the arrest for the reality show and the use of the tank may support Llovera's claims, but it may not be enough to force tough guys Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Steven Seagal to apologize.
Related Resources:
- Find a Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Suspect's Past, Publicity of MCSO Cockfighting Raid Draw Notice (The Arizona Republic)
- Police Misconduct and Civil Rights (FindLaw)
- Steven Seagal, Phx Sheriff Joe Killed 100 Roosters in TV Tank Raid? (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
ShareThis
