2011-04-27 "Attorney accuses Alameda County of racial profiling; Public defender was pulled over and searched in Castro Valley"

by Chris De Benedetti and Chris Metinko from "Oakland Tribune"
[http://www.contracostatimes.com/rss/ci_17943978?source=rss]:
OAKLAND -- A civil rights lawsuit filed by an African-American attorney claims a Castro Valley traffic stop made by Alameda County sheriff's deputies last year was a case of racial profiling.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Oakland this week, claims a deputy pulled Kwixuan Maloof over for dubious reasons, then unlawfully handcuffed and detained him while illegally searching his car.
Maloof is a managing felony attorney in the San Francisco Public Defender's Office, as well as president of the Charles Houston Bar Association -- the largest association of African-American lawyers in Northern California.
Maloof, 42, was driving his 2004 Cadillac XLR on March 5, 2010, when a deputy, who was white, pulled him over on East Castro Valley Boulevard, near Jensen Road. The suit claims the deputy told Maloof he pulled him over because he "heard a loud voice" from the car and that he had committed no traffic violation.
Maloof suspected he was being racially profiled and pulled out his cellphone camera. The filing says the deputy quickly blinded the camera with his flashlight. Other deputies arrived and confiscated Maloof's cellphone. He then was handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol car while officers searched the trunk of his car, according to the suit.
Maloof eventually was released, and no charges were filed.
"This incident happened over a year ago and every time I see the police, more specifically the sheriff's department, I get an uneasy feeling," said Maloof.
He said the incident frightened his family and embarrassed him.
"I feel I have to stand up for myself," said Maloof, who has been with the public defender's office for 10 years.
The lawsuit, which was filed Monday by Maloof's attorney John Burris, claims Maloof was unlawfully profiled, illegally detained, battered and suffered emotional distress. The suit also says the county has a pattern of "ongoing constitutional violations and unlawful practices constituting racial profiling" that the department's supervisors have done nothing to stop.
A sheriff's office spokesman said Sheriff Gregory Ahern had no comment.
"The sheriff was just recently provided this lawsuit, and he hasn't had a chance to review it, so he can't make a specific comment on the case," Sgt. J.D. Nelson said. "However, he does take great pride that all sheriff's employees do act in accordance with law and that they remain professional during difficult circumstances."
Alameda County Counsel also had no comment on the lawsuit.

2011-04-15 "Updated List of Stolen Lives with Latest In Custody Death at Sonoma County Jail"
On April 14th William Jackson, 59, died in the custody of the Sonoma County Sheriff Department. Mr. Jackson is the 42nd person to be killed by or die in the custody of law enforcement in Sonoma County since 2000. [http://pachline.org/?p=446]
The following and attached list is maintained by the Police Accountability Clinic and Helpline (www.pachline.org), please take a look at our site and consider donating to support our work.

THE SILENCE MUST END!
No more secrets. We demand timely, full disclosure of information in all police killings. These are the names of those who died at the hands of Sonoma County law enforcement, since a 1999 recommendation from the U.S. Civil Rights Commission Advisory Commission for a CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD:

1. Philip Medina, 48, January 17, 2000 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

2. James Curran, 51, March 19, 2000 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

3. Erin Colleen McDonald, 31, April 20, 2000 shot five times Windsor Police* Fuston/Howard

4. Todd Eugene Dieterle, 37, May, 2000 shot seven times SRJC Police

5. Robert Comacho, 35, May 5, 2000 shot Rohnert Park Police

6. Patrick McLoughlin, 19, October 23, 2001 gunfire exchange Petaluma Police

7. Luis Solaro Gonzalez, 23, February 28, 2002 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

8. Thomas John Connelly, 49, May 8, 2002 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

9. Serena Roxanne Case, 32, January 16, 2003 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

10. Keith Thompson Suite, 42, April 8, 2003 injured in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

11. Seth Micha Warde, 22, July 10, 2003 traffic stop CHP

12. Anthony Zakharoff, 49, July 27, 2003 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

13. Michael W. Behringh, 52, November 18, 2003 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

14. Joseph A. Peay, 35, September 18, 2004 shot 10 times Sheriff/CHP

15. Kenneth Hugh Duncan, 62, November 11, 2004 shot nine times Sonoma County Sheriff

16. April Hanlon 35, November 25, 2004 gunfire Sonoma County Sheriff

17. Terry Lee Grinner, Jr., 30, January 25, 2005 shot twice Rohnert Park Police

18. Carlos Casillas Fernandez, 31, July 16, 2005 tasered 6x Santa Rosa Police

19. James Anthony DeCosta, 72, October 1, 2005 shot 27 times Petaluma Police

20. James Richard Nace, 42, December 10, 2005 shot Sonoma County Sheriff

21. Moses McDowell, 29, November 6, 2006 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

22. Haki Thurston, 22, February 23, 2007 shot 27 times Santa Rosa SWAT

23. Jeremiah Chass, 16, March 12, 2007 shot 8 times Sonoma County Sheriff

24. Richard DeSantis, 30, April 9, 2007 shot twice Santa Rosa Police

25. Walter L. Heller, 55, April 22, 2007 tasered twice Petaluma Police

26. Luis Felipe Sanchez, 27, May 4, 2007 shot 21 times Sonoma County Sheriff

27. Richard Lamont Williamson, 54, June 17, 2007 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

28. Ryan George, 22, July 9, 2007 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

29. William Townsley, 46, September 24, 2007 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

30. James Marrufo, 48, December 1, 2007 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

31. Jesse Hamilton, 24, January 2, 2008 shot Santa Rosa Police

32. Samuel Castillo-Martinez, 36, March 13, 2008 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

33. Heather Smith-Billings, 31, March 16, 2008 shot Rohnert Park Police

34. Leonardo Pacheco, 39, April 21, 2008 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

35. Guy James Fernandez, 52, November 9, 2008 stun gun Rohnert Park Police

36. Craig Von Dohlen 37, December 7, 2008 shot Sonoma County Sheriff

37. Nathan B Vaughn, 39, December 20, 2008 tasered 3x Sonoma County Sheriff

38. Jon Gerald Moore, 44, September 18, 2009 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

39. Teresa Ellen Hagan, 49, January 21, 2010 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff

40. Albert Mike Leday, Jr, 49, June 1, 2010 shot 3x Sonoma County Sheriff *Fuston

41. Nicodemus Sullivan, 24, October 29, 2010 shot at 42 times Sheriff and CHP

42. William Jackson, 59, April 14, 2011 in custody Sonoma County Sheriff