Sheriff accused of racial profiling

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VIDEO: ACLU takes aim
VIDEO: Lawsuit filed
UNCUT: ACLU explains

PHOENIX – An ACLU lawsuit claims the sheriff's crime sweeps are causing public humiliation.

Those filing it also say all of this is creating a culture of fear for Latinos in Maricopa County.

Manuel Nieto, Jr. and his sister Velia help run the family auto shop. Manuel Sr. is their father. Nieto says his children are American citizens but now the two are party to this lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio. They, along with three others and a coalition of community groups, claim the sheriff is racially discriminating against Hispanics during his crime suppression sweeps.

The father says he is upset and it started at a Phoenix quick stop. He tells us his children were listening to Spanish music when they pulled up to the store where a deputy had two men handcuffed. The lawsuit claims the deputy told the Nietos to leave.

They say they asked why, asked for his badge number and left.

Manny Jr. says that is when four more deputies pulled them over in front of the family business. He claims he called 911 as deputies raised their weapons, pressed his face against the car and handcuffed him. Now Manuel is back at work because he claims the deputies simply left without giving him a citation or an explanation.

The sheriff's office issued a statement saying, “The MCSO does not racially profile.” It goes on to say this filing “will not stop Sheriff Arpaio or the MCSO from doing its work enforcing all laws including state and federal illegal immigration laws.”

Nieto says he would like to tell the sheriff to stop his sweeps. He is hoping the lawsuit will do it for him. The suit is asking for a permanent restraining order that would stop the MCSO from doing any more of its sweeps.

3TV did try to get an interview with the sheriff today but were told he is out of town.