Pima County Supervisor Sharon Bronson needs the Arizona Lawyer Normal’s Workplace or the state Division of Public Security to research claims Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos didn’t conduct a “well timed and thorough investigation” into the alleged sexual assault of a deputy by her supervisor in December.
Bronson positioned the merchandise on Tuesday’s agenda, simply days after the newly fashioned Pima County Deputies Group despatched out a information launch demanding Nanos launch an investigation into the actions of the lady’s chain of command on Dec. 18.
In line with the group, a deputy was “actively” being sexually assaulted by Ricky Garcia at a home social gathering whereas her lieutenant, captain and chief did nothing. The union additional alleges Nanos later promoted the identical chief to supervise inside affairs to cowl up his and the others’ complicity within the incident.
Garcia was fired and is awaiting trial in Pima County Superior Courtroom on two counts of sexual assault. The alleged sufferer filed a $900,000 declare towards the county in June.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos categorically denied the allegations this week and urged it was linked to his plan to run for re-election subsequent yr.
When requested why the group selected to ship out the discharge this week, Sgt. Aaron Cross, president of the union, mentioned they simply obtained permission from their attorneys to take action.
The Santa Cruz County District Lawyer’s Workplace is dealing with Garcia’s prosecution and anybody reviewing these information will uncover the reality, Nanos mentioned. The decision was dealt with similar to every other sexual assault case, he mentioned.
“That allegation concerning the lieutenant and (others being) outdoors whereas she’s being raped, that’s so…I inform you what, if I used to be the lieutenant who they accused of being on the market I feel I might file a lawsuit towards these guys, that’s so, so removed from the reality, not even shut. That simply did not occur,” Nanos instructed the Inexperienced Valley Information.
Earlier this week, Bronson mentioned she was “perplexed” by what she is listening to concerning the case.
“I feel there ought to have been a extra rigorous response than there was,” Bronson mentioned.
At Wednesday’s Inexperienced Valley Council assembly, District 4 Supervisor Steve Christy additionally expressed concern.
“The costs are very troubling and really regarding and it’s obtained my consideration and I’m certain the eye of the residents of Pima County… I do imagine within the very quick and close to time period that issues will unfold and reveal themselves in addition to developments being organized and being taken are all forthcoming,” Christy mentioned.
Home incident
Cross mentioned the deputy was sexually assault by Garcia after changing into intoxicated at a December 2022 Christmas social gathering he hosted.
One other deputy grew to become conscious of the sexual assault and known as a captain, who despatched a lieutenant to the scene. Nevertheless, he stood outdoors the home ready for orders for 80 minutes whereas the sexual assault continued, Cross mentioned.
“Lastly, the deputy, the witness deputy will get fed up and calls 911 on his personal. Patrol responds and the patrol sergeant and deputies go to the door and make contact with Ricky,” Cross mentioned.
A short while later, the nonetheless intoxicated alleged sufferer is distributed out of the home and brought to the hospital the place a rape equipment confirmed she’d been sexually assaulted, Cross mentioned. Garcia was arrested and later indicted.
No inside investigation into Garcia or the occasions of that night time was ever performed, Cross mentioned.
“We on the Pima County Deputy’s Group are outraged that Sheriff Nanos has failed to research the intense misconduct amongst his personal command that allowed the extended sexual assault of a deputy,” the group’s new launch acknowledged. “We name upon Sheriff Nanos to deliver integrity again to this company and instantly launch a full investigation via our inside affairs or request one other company to take action.”
A 911 name was made, deputies have been dispatched and the calls began going up the chain to him, Nanos mentioned.
“These sorts of notifications aren’t simply applicable, they’re needed so that individuals understand and acknowledge that, hey, one thing occurred, you realize, with our group. We have to alert these above in order that we do not make a large number right here, that we do precisely what we’re purported to do,” Nanos mentioned. “It obtained to me and it was actual easy. That is a straightforward one. You’ve gotten any person reporting that somebody was a sufferer in a sexual assault case. Exit and examine it. It is no totally different than every other case besides that it concerned a subordinate and her supervisor.”
So far as an inside affairs investigation? Nanos mentioned the alleged sufferer requested if Garcia was going to be investigated and she or he was instructed such investigations are performed after the felony investigation is accomplished.
She by no means expressed issues about her different colleagues, nor did she request an investigation into their actions that night time, he mentioned.
“I instructed her there’d be an inside investigation after the felony case is full, as a result of, to be sincere with you, if the one individual concerned in that is the felony, Ricky, then he is fired. I do not want an inside investigation to cope with him,” Nanos mentioned.
The remainder of their five-minute dialog consisted of him ensuring she was comfy returning to her unit, Nanos mentioned. She mentioned she was.
Sure, he later positioned the chief in query over inside affairs, however solely as a result of Chief Deputy Richard Kastigar resigned, Nanos mentioned.
“These guys, I do not know the place they’re coming from however I’ve obtained larger issues to do than cope with these guys,” Nanos mentioned.