A deputy who was acquitted of raping a colleague last September has filed a lawsuit against the Pima County Sheriff's Department, the Pima County Attorney's Office and the Pima County Board of Supervisors, alleging defamation and malicious prosecution.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday on behalf of Michael Canizales by attorney Natasha Wrae, also alleges abuse of process, negligence, civil rights infractions and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Isabel Burruel Smutzer, a spokeswoman for the Pima County Attorney's Office, said the office has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation.
Canizales originally filed a $5.2 million claim in March but the county did not respond.
Canizales sought $5 million for defamation of character and pain and suffering, plus more than $81,000 for loss of overtime, loans incurred, a pension-withdrawal penalty and the sale of a vehicle. He also sought to repay AZCOPS $137,000 for the legal services he received from attorney Michael Storie.Canizales was charged with two counts of sexual assault after a co-worker told authorities he raped and sodomized her in January 2009.
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His first trial ended in a mistrial and he was acquitted in the second trial.
Read more in tomorrow's Star
