Top 10 Joe Arpaio Stories of 2013

2013 hasn't been the greatest year for Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

From getting roughed up by a sidewalk to being on the losing end of a huge civil-rights lawsuit, check out our top-10 Arpaio stories of the year:

See also:
-Investigating Sheriff Joe Arpaio

10.) Joe Arpaio Celebrating the 20th Birthday of His "Concentration Camp," Tent City

Who celebrates 20 years of running what they describe as a "concentration camp," and takes pride in exposing men and women to the elements of the desert? Only the leader of that "concentration camp," of course -- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

See also: Joe Arpaio Celebrating the 20th Birthday of His "Concentration Camp," Tent City

9.) Why Sheriff Joe Actually Is Nervous About the Recall Effort Against Him

A recall effort against Arpaio ended up being unsuccessful, but it had the elderly sheriff and his camp shaking in their boots.

See also: Why Sheriff Joe Actually Is Nervous About the Recall Effort Against Him

8.) Joe Arpaio Can't Arrest People for Smuggling Themselves Into Country, Judge Rules

As a result of yet another immigration-related lawsuit filed against the county, a federal judge ruled that Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, and their successors, cannot arrest and prosecute people for self-smuggling -- a plot that was the brainchild of disbarred and disgraced former County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

See also: Joe Arpaio Can't Arrest People for Smuggling Themselves Into Country, Judge Rules

7.) Joe Arpaio Supporter, Minuteman Chris Simcox, Charged w/Child Molestation

Former minuteman leader, Arpaio supporter, and one-time U.S. Senate hopeful Chris Simcox was arrested by Phoenix cops on multiple counts related to child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor.

See also: Joe Arpaio Supporter, Minuteman Chris Simcox, Charged w/Child Molestation

6.) Arpaio, 80-Year-Old Sheriff, Broke His Arm After Tripping and Falling

Eighty-year-old Sheriff Arpaio tripped, fell, and broke his arm on his way to lunch. Arpaio was hospitalized for some time, and did not look good (relatively speaking) for quite some time.

See also: Arpaio, 80-Year-Old Sheriff, Broke His Arm After Tripping and Falling

5.) Joe Arpaio Costs Us Another $7.3 Million and Counting in Melendres

In Arpaio's fight of the Melendres v. Arpaio civil rights lawsuit, it's estimated that taxpayers will have to shell out $7.3 million in lawyer fees and legal expenses. Well, that estimate's a couple months old now, and since Arpaio's trying to appeal, that number isn't exactly going down.

See also: Joe Arpaio Costs Us Another $7.3 Million and Counting in Melendres

4.) Joe Arpaio-Fave Danny's Family Car Wash Raided by ICE

Despite Arpaio pretending to be the biggest immigration enforcer in town, it just so happens that the feds made one of the biggest immigration/employment busts, right under Arpaio's nose, at Danny's Family Car Wash. The, uh, coincidence is that Danny's is a major sponsor of the MCSO memorial fund, and the two have partnered up for various charity events.

See also: Joe Arpaio-Fave Danny's Family Car Wash Raided by ICE

3.) Arpaio Fires Up Hispanic-Hunting Raids, Going After the Smallest Fish He Can Find

Speaking of Arpaio's immigration raids, Arpaio's clinging to the employment busts as one of his few remaining methods to round up immigrants.

See also: Arpaio Fires Up Hispanic-Hunting Raids, Going After the Smallest Fish He Can Find

2.) Joe Arpaio Loses: New Times Co-Founders Win $3.75 Million Settlement for 2007 False Arrests

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors this afternoon voted unanimously to approve a $3.75 million settlement for New Times' co-founders, whose false arrests in 2007 were orchestrated by Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin were taken from their homes in the middle of the night and jailed on misdemeanor charges alleging that they violated the secrecy of a grand jury -- which turned out never to have been convened.

See also: Joe Arpaio Loses: New Times Co-Founders Win $3.75 Million Settlement for 2007 False Arrests

1.) Joe Arpaio's Doomsday: Arpaio Loses ACLU Civil Rights Lawsuit

Arpaio's on the losing end of the ACLU's civil rights lawsuit. A federal judge orders Arpaio and his office to stop racial-profiling practices.

See also: Joe Arpaio's Doomsday: Arpaio Loses ACLU Civil Rights Lawsuit

Send feedback and tips to the author.
Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.

• Lists