Maricopa Woman Challenges Arrest by State Troopers
A woman from Maricopa, Germani Hernandez, recently expressed concerns about the accuracy of the internal complaint filed against her by an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper. She claims that the report contains several significant inaccuracies.
On July 29, Hernandez, 33, was pulled over on State Route 347, just north of Maricopa. According to the state troopers, she was driving at 105 mph in a 65 mph zone, with her two-year-old son in the back seat. They also noted that her child was not securely restrained. Consequently, Hernandez was taken to the Pinal County Jail on charges of criminal speeding and reckless driving.
In a recent interview with Immaricopa, Hernandez defended her actions, stating that her child was indeed secured in a car seat. She explained that her older child had managed to loosen the seat from its base, which she was unaware of, but insisted that the seatbelt was still buckled. She described the trooper’s account as misleading, asserting, “This is actually wrong. My toddler remained firmly restrained in his seat and he was not bothered or unrestrained.”
Hernandez also disputed the trooper’s reported speed. She claimed her car is equipped with safety features that prevent speeds above 85 mph and mentioned that the officer “paced” her vehicle without using radar to gauge her speed. “I wasn’t driving over 100,” she stated firmly, suggesting that the troopers merely guessed her speed and did not utilize proper equipment.
Her car was towed despite the presence of her sister, who had arrived to drive it home. The vehicle remains impounded, a frustration for Hernandez.
She has filed a policy violation complaint with DPS against Trooper R. Lugo Jr., particularly highlighting the absence of citations or documentation filed within seven days following the incident.
As of now, Hernandez claims that no charges have been officially filed against her. She is requesting access to body camera and dash camera recordings from the stop and is seeking the release of her vehicle.
Hernandez initially faced booking at Pinal County, but no pending charges exist against her in either Pinal or Maricopa County courts. Recently relocated from Washington to Maricopa, she is concerned about how this incident has impacted her children, including a five-year-old son and an infant with health issues.
“This was horrifying,” she reflected. “My 5-year-old doesn’t want me to go to court. He’s scared I’m going to prison.”
A representative from DPS has not commented on the situation as of this publication, but updates are expected as more information becomes available.
