Sergeant Ricardo Garcia of the ministry’s School Resources Division was arrested in January on one count of sexual assault that stemmed from an incident at a house party he hosted. He was fired later that month, the Arizona Daily Star reported earlier.

The allegation notice, which precedes the lawsuit, says the deputy attended a Christmas party for school resource unit members at the home of her then-boss, Garcia, in December 2022. In the lawsuit, he seeks damages for injuries and the department’s mishandling.

At some point during the party, the Deputy Councilor felt unable to drive home. Garcia and her girlfriend invited her lieutenant to stay in their spare room, where she rested and went to sleep.

After midnight, Garcia allegedly sexually assaulted the unconscious woman. Another member of her party stepped in and asked for help, she claimed.

Garcia reportedly called and texted the department’s chief of staff, Joseph D. Cameron. After the conversation, Cameron allegedly called another sergeant and asked him to contact Garcia on behalf of the union.

“Neither Mr. Ricky nor Mr. Cameron properly followed the chain of command because this type of direct communication was inappropriate under the circumstances,” it said.

The next day, the lieutenant was informed of the incident. An intervening lieutenant called the police, and a patrol car drove to Garcia’s home.

The deputy was questioned in a police car and taken to his home. Later that morning, she went to the hospital, where she was tested for a rape kit, which confirmed the presence of Garcia’s DNA in her.

The lieutenant had previously met in 2007 when Garcia was at the academy, but lost contact after Garcia’s transfer. She later became a sheriff’s deputy and the two are said to have reunited in 2021.

The agent claims he suffers from “extreme post-traumatic stress symptoms” and seeks ongoing counseling.

“Defendant Counsel has experienced other pain, suffering, and suffering, including an inability to enjoy life and activities that he previously enjoyed, a difficulty in trusting others, etc., as a result of the collective misconduct of the defendants. I have also experienced anxiety, harm and loss,” the complaint states.

The allegation also states that Sheriff Chris Nanos “knew or should have known that his department’s policies and practices were inadequate to protect crime victims,” ​​and that “the official There was also a culture of avoiding appropriate routes and chains of command in carrying out

The complaint states that “failure to comply with laws, rules and regulations caused and contributed to the lieutenant’s injury and damage.”

Deputies are seeking $225,000 from Pima County, Nanos, Garcia, and Cameron.

“Defendants and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department committed acts in their personal and public capacity that clearly violated the established rights of the sheriff,” it alleges. “Their conduct caused or contributed to the serious, ongoing and possibly permanent injury suffered by the lieutenant, which led to her assault and rape and subsequent mismanagement of the investigation. .”