Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Top 10

"To authoritarian conservatives," William Grigg wrote last November at The LRC Blog, "the demented thug known as Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a folk hero. Sure, people regularly die in Arpaio's custody, his deputies can brazenly commit acts of theft in open court, he's chummy with neo-Nazis, and his corruption has cost the taxpayers of Maricopa County plenty—but, hey, at least he's beating back the Brown Peril, so he must be a good guy." I've heard from quite a few Arpaio fans since writing last week's column, which warned that Arizona's new immigration law will encourage police to emulate him. I am sure that none of them would be interested in this video-illustrated list of "Sheriff Joe Arpaio's 10 Craziest Moments," which range from wacky publicity stunts like pink inmate underwear to egregious abuses such as an assault by his deputies on a paraplegic man busted for marijuana possession and the shackling of a suspected illegal immigrant throughout childbirth. Several of these cases have been noted here by Radley Balko and others.

Comments

[imhotep]

Second! Wait... Damn...

[Pink Cosmotarian]

"Raaaaacist!!"

[stopdrugwar]

Don't forget the lying scumbags tryst with Elvis. http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.c.....s_pres.php

[Modest Proposer]

I think it's about time that someone clearly communicated to the Church of Scientology that Sheriff Arpaio is out to get them.

[Duckworth Lewis]

This is where the TeaParty people I meet generally go off the rail for me and make them largely unpalatable - freedom for themselves but kill the brown people in foriegn land and stop the immigrants at any cost...

[Corduroy]

This.

[LibertyBill]

Thats pretty much conservatism in a nut shell.

[LibertyPaul]

LibertyBill, sounds like your the "nut shell".

[Mark]

Forgive me for not crying over some criminals being forced to do a little yard work or wear demeaning clothes. We certainly don't want to harm those poor criminal's self esteem in any way now do we.

[Criminals]

We be innocent!

[Adam]

And breaking a paraplegic's neck? Shackling a woman during labour? Hey, it's all good. Probably had it coming.

[AJs]

They missed the one about symultaneously burning down someones house while leaving the tank unattended to roll down the hill into another persons car and house.

[Andrew S.]

Ooooh. I'm gonna give this a 9/10 for trolling. Probably needed a misspelling or a grammar error, but you're definitely gonna get some hits.

[MikeP]

...those poor criminal's self esteem...

He's one step ahead of you.

[Andrew S.]

I glossed right over that. That's what I get for browsing from my iPhone while trying to put my daughter to bed. He gets a perfect 10!

[&]

Nice multitasking there. Kids can be such a nuisance!

[Episiarch]

Right, because there are no innocent people in prison. Well, except for the 250 freed over the last few years by the Innocence Project. But hey, what was the old saying? "Best that 100 innocent men rot in prison than 1 guilty one goes free even if all they are guilty of is smoking some weed"? I have that right, don't I?

[GILMORE]

Mark|5.11.10 @ 7:50PM|#
Forgive me for not crying over some criminals...

Why should you? If they were actually criminals, that is...

Of course there's also the parapalegic they strapped to a chair until his neck snapped, and the journalists he subpoenaed for talking about him, destruction of evidence in lawsuits against his department, and at least 4 or so wrongful deaths of prisoners in his custody... some of them even (gasp!) white people!

e.g. From WikiP

One major controversy includes the 1996 death of inmate Scott Norberg, a former Brigham Young University football wide receiver, who died while in custody of the Sheriff's office.[66] Norberg was arrested for assaulting a police officer in Mesa, Arizona, after neighbors in a residential area had reported a delirious man walking in their neighborhood.[67] Arpaio's office repeatedly claimed Norberg was also high on methamphetamine, but a blood toxicology performed post-mortem was inconclusive. According to a toxological report, Norberg did have methamphetamine in his urine, though "there would be no direct effect caused by the methamphetamine on Norberg's behavior at the time of the incident".[68] During his internment, evidence suggests detention officers shocked Norberg several times with a stun-gun. According to an investigation by Amnesty International, Norberg was already handcuffed and face down when officers dragged him from his cell and placed him in a restraint chair with a towel covering his face. After Norberg's corpse was discovered, detention officers accused Norberg of attacking them as they were trying to restrain him. The cause of his death, according to the Maricopa County medical examiner, was due to "positional asphyxia".

But, hey, whats a few dead drug users so long as good ol' joe gets the brown out of Arizona!

Dont shed tears... have a sack and acknowledge the bullshit that happens when people blindly endorse a police state out of irrational xenophobia.

[zoltan]

Actually, the Mormons just wanted to get rid of yet another one of those pesky young men--leaves more of the women for the older gentlemen--and they asked Arpaio to do the job.

[k8lyn]

Wow, Zoltan, that's impressive. Just like Ol' Joe you don't let facts or actual knowledge of the subject get in your way, you just go ahead and move forward in a blissful haze of self serving, idiotic bigotry. Hey maybe you should apply for employment with Joe...I'm sure he has an opening for yet another mindless thug who is willing to step and fetch, kiss his ass and do his bidding.

[seanrude]

I am fairly certain that Zoltan was joking, but who knows, you could be right.

Nah, he was joking.

Zoltan, you were joking right?

[baghoh20]

If he breaks the law, prosecute. If all this is true then why is he still doing it? With this country's plentiful liberal law agencies like the ACLU, why is he still at it? This makes me believe the story is not as depicted here. He is effective at what he is aiming at, so I'm suspicious of claims using terms like "demented thug". We have people to fight such things and they are not succeeding in his case, so he must not be too bad.

[dennis]

His department is basically a Praetorian Guard in the county. Judges and politicians are hesitant to stand up to him because they understandably fear for their safety. The Feds might well go after him, but they might not want the headache of putting up with the stupid law and order types (you know, the ones who never pass up a chance to capitalize the word "illegal" when calling undocumented migrants "illegal immigrants.") Also, given the Fed mentality since 9/11 they might be trying to get pointers on how to be authoritarian jackasses from him. Arpaio is simply evil, he is an irredeemably vile glob of feces. No fate that could befall him would be too bad, the world would be a noticeably better place had he never been conceived.

[JoshInHb]

The Feds under Bush went after a popular Sheriff in OC. for less than 1% of what arpaio is accused of.

That makes me think the accusations are bullshit.

[GILMORE]

Dude, just check

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio

Or read the many posts Radley's put up. How much validation do you need? The reason the guy gets away with it is because he's politically connected, and frankly pretty popular in his county. If you look at the laws that have passed in Arizona recently you can imagine the difference between Maricopa and Orange County California...

[Charles]

Not all immigrants that have come across the border without permission are workers, but they are all here illegally. So the term illegal immigrant is more fitting than undocumented worker. I have the utmost respect for the ones that come to work and stay out of trouble most of them work much harder than Americans. I do not blame them either if I where in their position I would probably do the same thing. Unfortunately being American I have to consider what is best for the country as a whole and the flood of illegals that are burdening our law enforcement hospitals and school systems is not in the best interest of this country. Secure the borders then talk about what to do with those here no more promises of secured borders and a path to citizenship. Also we can not charge them a fine unless they enter the country after the date we say there is a fine because that would be a bill of attainder.

[MikeP]

Unfortunately being American I have to consider what is best for the country as a whole...

You're also human. Why don't you consider what is best for humanity as a whole?

Economic migration is the single greatest wealth creation mechanism available today, raising migrants' wages many times while raising average native wages in the US a small amount as well.

...and the flood of illegals that are burdening our law enforcement hospitals and school systems is not in the best interest of this country.

If the borders were less "secure" -- or if economic migrants were simply given visas to come and go as they wish -- then they would leave their families in their home countries where it is cheaper to live and these "burdens" would be much reduced.

[Charles]

You're also human. Why don't you consider what is best for humanity as a whole?
Well the money you spend on Internet for the month could support Obama's brothers village in Kenya so why aren't you doing what is best for man kind and sending all your money to the poor around the world. You could live in a real cheap place not have cable or a car and eat beans and rice so you could support entire families in poor countries around the globe. That would certainly benefit humanity as a whole more than you do now.

If the borders were less "secure" -- or if economic migrants were simply given visas to come and go as they wish -- then they would leave their families in their home countries where it is cheaper to live and these "burdens" would be much reduced.

The borders need to be secured to stop the drug smuggling if nothing else. I am not against some sort of guest worker program that makes it easier for honest hard working folks to come up and work. After the borders are secured.

[MikeP]

First, I am not arguing for charity. I am arguing to allow people to exercise their inalienable individual rights regardless of what side of a line on a map they were born on.

Second, you stop drug smuggling by legalizing drugs. Just as you stop illegal immigration by legalizing migration.

[dennis]

I wrote undocumented migrant, not undocumented worker. We should let anyone who wants to live or work here in, we don't have to grant them citizenship, we don't have to let them vote, we don't have to give them goodies, but to interfere with peaceful migration or the right of any to consenting parties to enter into an employment contract is abominable. If enforcement of a law requires the sorts of steps that enforcing immigration laws requires, then the law is probably not a just one.

[Charles]

Not all immigrants that have come across the border without permission are workers, but they are all here illegally. So the term illegal immigrant is more fitting than undocumented worker. I have the utmost respect for the ones that come to work and stay out of trouble most of them work much harder than Americans. I do not blame them either if I where in their position I would probably do the same thing. Unfortunately being American I have to consider what is best for the country as a whole and the flood of illegals that are burdening our law enforcement hospitals and school systems is not in the best interest of this country. Secure the borders then talk about what to do with those here no more promises of secured borders and a path to citizenship. Also we can not charge them a fine unless they enter the country after the date we say there is a fine because that would be a bill of attainder.

[Kolohe]

baghoh's post is like some crazy version of the Efficient Market Hypothesis applied to government.

By the same token, since we have checks and balances and elections and the Constitution and shit, nothing the federal government does is wrong.

[Ghost of Schr?dinger's cat]

Threadjack:

Apparently the City of Glendale is going to vote 6-1 in favour of eating potentially 20 million dollars in team losses for the Phoenix Coyotes if the NHL continues to own them next year... with tax payers money!.. how is that even plausible considering it is illegal to subsidize a sports team with tax money?

[Andrew S.]

Since when is it illegal? It's horrifyingly stupid, and insulting to the taxpayers... but illegal?

[Ghost of Schr?dinger's cat]

"Glendale officials have said that they would not cover the team's losses with the city's general budget, which provides services to residents.

Rather, Glendale expects to pay the operating losses through taxes and fees in the city's sports and entertainment district.

That includes setting up a taxing district, called a community-facilities district, to charge landowners near the arena and Westgate City Center.

The council would vote on the guarantee before the team's ownership is clear and before any such district is in place.

Two Valley bond experts questioned whether such a taxing district could legally funnel revenues to a sports team."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sport.....z0nfhgWxLy

[AA]

This is embarrassing for my state. Nobody even likes the Coyotes! I was against my beloved Cardinals getting a tax funded stadium, but at least they backed it up with winning and fan support.... wait, what did this have to do with Arpio?

[pantsfan]

indeed.
nevertheless, Gary Bettman is a tool

[Nick]

...and Colin Campbell is a douchebag. I hate them both.

[Sheriff Joe Arpaio]

11. When I crack open Jacob Sullum's skull the moment he steps foot inside Maricopa County.

[Ken Hagler]

I am sure that none of them would be interested in this video-illustrated list?

I'm actually fairly sure that the scum who support this monster think those things are all wonderful examples of why they support him.

[Douglas Gray]

There are always a good percentage of people who blame their unhappiness on some imagined 'enemy'; They can't live any other way. They have to have "the evil brown menace" in their lives. These are the supporters of Sheriff Joe. Immigrant crime rates are quite low, everyone knows that.

[JoshInHb]

There are always a good percentage of people who blame their unhappiness on some imagined 'enemy'; They can't live any other way. They have to have "the evil brown blue menace" in their lives.

[Lou ingret]

LOL Arpaio is a pompous redneck hillbilly who thinks he is "all that". WHat a joke.

Lou
http://www.anon-posting.tk

[Cyto]

If you need an explanation of how Sheriff Joe continues his reign of terror, watch the video for "arrested for clapping" in the video illustrated list. The video shows the Sheriff and his men blatantly violating the rights of several political opponents at a public meeting of the county board of supervisors. Nobody on the council even blinks at the ridiculous arrest of several lefty activists who "clapped too loud". The chair even makes a show of reading out the list of scheduled speakers while they are being carted out, not once acknowledging that the speakers are present and are being forcibly removed. Clearly the entire power structure of that county is on the same page.

And for those of you who have anti-illegal immigration motivated sympathies with Sheriff Joe, that video alone should give you all you need to understand that this is not an American way of governance. The Mariposa county government is entirely inconsistent with the American way of life, despite their "law and order" poser status. They are entirely unamerican authoritarian thugs who should rightly be locked up.

[Some Guy]

Either the anon-bot is actually a person spamming the board, or it's starting to reach scary levels of AI. Somewhere, in a small room, Turing is chuckling.

[Stone Cold]

Of course it's a person, you retard. HE hits double-caps by mistake, just like me.

[Cyto]

Recently there have been several threads here and over at hit-and-run about forcibly resisting an unlawful arrest. Take a look at the "clapping" video referenced above. Here is a clearly unlawful arrest, doubly unlawful for its clear violation of constitutional protections of speech, assembly and rights to petition the government for redress. Have no doubt, you could not have resisted this unlawful arrest. Several armed deputies were on scene to ensure that events went their way, and it was clear that you would not find a judge or jury that would side with you on the unlawful nature of the arrest were you to survive the encounter to face trial.

[IceTrey]

How come he's been ELECTED 5 times then? The liberals love to talk about how Obama was chosen by the people and how the people must be heard. Well the people of Maricopa county have spoken and it seems they love Sheriff Joe.

[Kolohe]

The People are morons.

[IceTrey]

See above comment about how the people chose Obama.

[Anonymous]

Are you under the impression this is one of those websites where "the liberals" talk about how great Obama is?

[MWG]

Yes yes, Democracy: When two wolves and sheep...

[troy]

I've said that we live in a soft totalitarian state (our only real freedoms are to go to work and bitch). Arpaio's indefatigable existence is evidence of that.

[LibertyBill]

+1

[Charles]

Really unless you live in so cal az nm or so tx you have no idea what the immigration mess is like. For those bashing Joe I agree with the other poster with the ACLU and other liberal power houses if he was guilty of those things as described he would be gone. Maybe a local judge wouldn't go after him but as they appealed up the ladder there would be plenty of judges that would take him to task. All the atrocities are at the least unproven sorry people in az like Joe cause he treats criminals like they have done something wrong tent city in az love it lol. Bunch of gang bangers in 120 degree weather no AC and wearing pink haha.

[Anonymous]

By your logic, no government official anywhere could be guilty of gross abuse of power since they obviously wouldn't be there if they were guilty. The ACLU isn't some all-powerful omniscient being with bottomless pockets and infallible lawyers.

Also I'm in Texas and I don't have any problem with immigration. Most Mexicans I've known have been better neighbors on the whole than the self-righteous WASP types.

[Aaron]

Charles, I live in Phoenix, and grew up outside Bisbee, literally less than five miles from the alleged war zone that is the border. I just want to say that the mess you allude to, about which people have "no idea," does not exist. There are problems, but nothing that justifies Arpaio's behavior, or his supporters' fervor.

Just in case someone were to peruse this comment section and somehow be convinced by your smug delight about all this, I'd like to provide a counter-statement and say you're full of it.

[zoltan]

He should propose to Kagan.

[Rick b1]

Jo Arpaio is HISPANIC, you dimmwitts! Calling him a nazi would be like calling Mother Teresa a Jew!!
THIS SITE IS TO REASON AS AS CHEESE IS TO GLASS.

[Laura]

Errr...I believe he is of ITALIAN descent. But who cares...they all look alike, don't they, Rick?

And your Mother Teresa analogy defies logic...

[JoeBoy86]

Yes he is of southern italian ancestry. By the way i'm italian ancestry and i have blond hair and blue eyes....Sorry but we don't all look alike! 😉

[randy]

lets not forget what they did to a black man who had false legs ,they treated him like crap ,after they kick his ass i think he stole something ,but come on lets get his ass out of office,he's a joke anyway,i'd meet him in a dark alley anyday