ACLU sues Arpaio over racial profiling

Several groups have filed a class action lawsuit alleging Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio discriminates against Latinos in his crime-suppression sweeps.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arizona, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Steptoe & Johnson LLP filed suit on behalf of five individuals and Somos America, a Latino community-based coalition.

"Sheriff Arpaio does not have the right to profile people because they look Latino regardless of their immigration status," said ACLU of Arizona Legal Director Dan Pochoda. "His job is to uphold the law, not violate people's rights."

Plaintiff Manuel Nieto Jr. said he was stopped and detained in front of his family's auto repair shop after police heard him listening to music in Spanish.

"It was very humiliating to be handcuffed in front of my family's business, in front of customers and neighbors," said Nieto, who is a U.S. citizen. "It's not a crime to be Latino or listen to a Spanish-language radio station, but you wouldn't know that by the way Sheriff Joe and his posse treat people."

Capt. Paul Chagolla said the sheriff's office does not racial profile, and that the lawsuit won't change the way they do business.

"Sherriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sherriff's Office will continue to do its work, continue to complete its job," he said.

The lawsuit builds upon a complaint filed last December.