Lead Maricopa County prosecutor on protest cases placed on administrative leave
PHOENIX The Maricopa County Attorneys Office has placed the lead prosecutor for a collection of protest cases on administrative leave amid an outside investigation into how a group of demonstrators was charged as a criminal street gang.
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The "Politically Charged" investigation exposed one case that was especially problematic: a group of protesters arrested on Oct.17 was charged as a criminal street gang based on exaggerations and lies.
ABC15 obtained records and police radio calls that show Sponsel was actively advising officers before the arrests were finalized. The audio further raised concerns about inappropriate coordination between Phoenix police and the Maricopa County Attorneys Office.
Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel has distanced herself from the gang charges, claiming she was out of the loop due to a traumatic brain injury last year. However, the arrests and charges were finalized before Adel was hospitalized.
https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/protest-arrests/lead-maricopa-county-prosecutor-on-protest-cases-placed-on-administrative-leave