Arizona sheriff testifies in racial profiling case about his immigration patrols

April 24, 2015April 27, 2015 News Room

By Jacques Billeaud

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A protestor of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents working with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, is arrested by Phoenix Police officers, Thursday, April 23, 2015, for blocking the intersection in front of the U.S. Federal Court in Phoenix. The protest to remove ICE agents from county jails is in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of Arizona's SB 1070 immigration bill. (AP Photo/Matt York) — A protestor of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents working with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, is arrested by Phoenix Police officers, Thursday, April 23, 2015, for blocking the intersection in front of the U.S. Federal Court in Phoenix. The protest to remove ICE agents from county jails is in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration bill. (AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX _ Sheriff Joe Arpaio has completed his first day of testimony in a hearing to decide whether he should be held in contempt of court for violating orders to stop his immigration patrols.

Arpaio testified for about an hour before the hearing finished for the day. He is expected to be back on the stand Thursday.

The normally defiant and tough-talking sheriff was more mild-mannered and meek than usual as he fielded questions about his immigration efforts. He frequently said “I don’t recall” in response to questions.

Lawyers earlier played a recording of a deposition in which a lieutenant said Arpaio defied a judge’s orders to stop carrying out immigration patrols.

Arpaio could face fines and other sanctions if he is found in contempt, along with a possible criminal contempt proceeding.