The city of Tucson has filed a protective order against a couple who are suing police for negligence related to a criminal investigation into a long-running prostitution ring, court documents show.
The order, filed in Pima County Superior Court last month, seeks to protect the city from “annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense,” relating to Anne Marie and Christopher Rechlin’s request for police reports and evidence related to the investigation into By Spanish, the illicit massage parlors operated around Tucson, according to the documents.
In November, the Rechlins filed a lawsuit against the city and Tucson Police Department, alleging the police’s failure to arrest Ulises Ruiz, a suspect in the investigation, led to his assault of Anne Marie in November 2014, documents show.
Ruiz confronted the couple when he discovered them taking pictures of cars in the parking lot of the alleged north-side brothel, striking Anne Marie in the shoulder with what police described as a “small bat.”
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In a March hearing, the court scheduled a January 2017 deadline for each party to produce evidence obtained during the discovery process. In June, the Rechlins filed a court motion requesting the police reports into the By Spanish investigation.
The city argued that the only reason the Rechlins are asking for the reports is they believe that if the police had done more, Ruiz wouldn’t have assaulted Anne Marie, according to court documents.
“No duty was owed to plaintiffs ... to arrest Mr. Ruiz, and plaintiffs have no standing to say who should be arrested and prosecuted for any of the alleged illegal activities,” the city’s response to the lawsuit stated.
The city’s request for the protective order says that it’s intended to ensure that no unnecessary expenses are incurred “to defend a meritless claim.” The motion argues that the court has set a deadline for the city to produce its evidence and that the city isn’t obligated to provide that evidence to the Rechlins before the deadline.
Last May, the Rechlins, who are representing themselves, filed a preliminary claim saying they intended to sue the city for $2 million. It’s not clear how much they are seeking in their lawsuit against the city, but they are seeking reimbursement of medical expenses related to the reported assault.
Ruiz was arrested after the reported incident with the Rechlins and charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He accepted an agreement in October, pleading guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
A hearing is set for later this month for Judge Gus Aragon to rule on the city’s order that the Rechlins stop requesting the investigation reports.
Prostitution investigation update
In January, Ruiz and his girlfriend, Clarissa Lopez, were arrested and are now facing charges of illegal control of an enterprise, keeping a house of prostitution, receiving the earnings of a prostitute and money laundering, according to court records.
They couple’s jury trial is set to begin in April 2017.
The police investigation revealed that By Spanish operated out of multiple locations in Tucson from November 2011 to January 2015, when police raided 10 properties associated with the business.
Ten Tucson police employees were caught up in the scandal, when their names and phone numbers were found in cellphones and records seized as evidence.
Eight police officers and one evidence technician lost their jobs as a result, but none of them were charged with a crime.
Two of the officers have since surrendered their state certification to work in law enforcement, and three others will appear before the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board in upcoming months, as they are now facing the loss of theirs.
