Arizona resident Axeel Melendez has filed a $176 million civil rights lawsuit against the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, according to court records. Melendez alleges that Pima County deputies shot him during a 2023 swatting incident at his Tucson-area home, causing severe injuries. The federal lawsuit accuses the department of using excessive force and violating constitutional protections during the high-risk law enforcement response.
Incident Details and the 2023 Swatting Call
According to court filings, the confrontation unfolded on April 27, 2023, when the Pima County Sheriff’s Department received an emergency call reporting a violent crime in progress at Melendez’s residence. Swatting involves placing a fraudulent emergency call to prompt an armed police response, often by a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, at an unsuspecting victim’s address. Responding deputies surrounded the property believing they were confronting an armed and dangerous suspect. Melendez maintains that he was unarmed and inside his home when deputies breached the location and opened fire, resulting in multiple gunshot wounds.
Legal Claims and Damage Demands
Melendez’s federal complaint lists multiple counts against Pima County and the individual deputies involved, citing violations of the Fourth Amendment regarding unreasonable search and seizure and the use of excessive deadly force. The $176 million demand accounts for catastrophic physical injuries, ongoing medical expenses, lost wages, and profound emotional distress. Attorneys representing Melendez argue that deputies failed to properly vet the emergency dispatch information before deploying lethal tactics against an innocent homeowner.
Pima County Sheriff’s Department Response
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined detailed comment on the pending litigation, adhering to standard agency policy regarding active lawsuits. County legal representatives are tasked with reviewing the use-of-force policies in place during the April 2023 operation to determine whether deputies acted within departmental guidelines for high-risk tactical responses. The defense is expected to address qualified immunity protections for the individual officers named in the complaint.
Next Steps in Federal Court
U.S. District Court proceedings will move into the discovery phase, where both legal teams will depose responding deputies, examine dispatch audio logs, and review body-worn camera footage from the incident. A scheduling conference is set to determine deadlines for expert witness testimony and pre-trial motions. If the parties fail to reach a settlement during court-mandated mediation, the case will proceed to a jury trial in federal court.
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