AZ Sheriff Given Deadline
PHOENIX -- The U.S. Department of Justice has given Sheriff Joe Arpaio until Friday to "provide clear and unequivocal agreement to cooperate" with their investigation into alleged civil rights violations. The DOJ wants Arpaio to turn over documents and cooperate with its inquiry.
A letter from a chief in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division lays out a list of records that must be produced, along with requests for interviews and access to county facilities.
The letter does not set out consequences if the Sheriff's Office does not comply, but set deadlines of Sept. 10 and Sept. 27 to meet the requests.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office is being investigated for alleged discrimination, unconstitutional searches and seizures, and having an English-only policy in his jails that allegedly discriminates against people with limited English skills.
Arpaio believes the inquiry is focused on his immigration patrols. The Justice Department has been investigating Arpaio's operation since March 2009.
