Deputy who was acquitted of rape sues county offices

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.

Officials "published false communications about Canizales that tended to expose him to hatred, contempt, ridicule or to induce an evil opinion of him in the minds of the people who hold to normal notions of morality," according to the lawsuit. As a result, he suffered damage to his reputation, shame, humiliation, mental anguish and hurt feelings, the lawsuit says.

The Tucson Police Department determined there was no probable cause for a criminal charge against Canizales, but prosecutors Susan Eazer and Michelle Araneta pursued charges against him anyway, the lawsuit says.

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, 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.

Canizales was suspended without pay on June 17, 2009, but was placed on administrative leave with pay on July 31, 2009, when the Pima County Law Enforcement Merit Commission decided not to extend his suspension without pay.

He was fired in May, but after a Superior Court jury acquitted him of all charges in September, Sheriff Clarence Dupnik rescinded his termination and authorized back pay.

Canizales' alleged victim was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.