Attorneys representing two Arizona men and a homeowner have filed a $3.25 million notice of claim against Pima County, Sheriff Chris Nanos, and a detective.
The claim stems from a search linked to the abduction of Nancy Guthrie.
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The legal filing, submitted on July 27, alleges wrongful arrest, public humiliation, and extensive property damage. It serves as a precursor to a potential lawsuit.
Incident Details
Delivery driver Carlos Palazuelos was pulled over and arrested at gunpoint on Feb. 10 in Rio Rico, about 60 miles south of Tucson.
He was held for seven to eight hours without probable cause and released without charges.
During the same operation, deputies in military attire entered a nearby residence.
Resident Daniel Maddox was forced to the ground, handcuffed, and kept under armed guard outside for hours.
The search caused structural damage to the home, including a broken front door, damaged door frame, defaced ceiling tiles, and destroyed paint.
Homeowner Josefina Maddox is seeking $250,000 for the damage.
The claim demands $2.5 million for Palazuelos and $500,000 for Daniel Maddox.
Allegations of Misconduct
The notice states that Palazuelos' arrest was made publicly to damage his reputation and implicate him in the kidnapping.
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Lawyers say Sheriff Nanos' public statements and social media posts wrongly portrayed Palazuelos as a key suspect.
Despite requests, law enforcement has refused to retract statements or publicly clear the men's names.
