The DOJ filed a lawsuit today against Joe Arpaio, the sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona, for failing to comply with a request for documents in a federal probe about whether his initiatives in policing illegal immigrants violated civil rights. Arpaio's methods include sweeping predominantly immigrant neighborhoods and stopping people for minor infractions in order to check their immigration status. The DOJ asked for 51 sets of documents. Arpaio only handed over eleven pages and wouldn't allow investigators to see the county jail or other sheriff's facilities. The agency said it was the first time that a police agency had not cooperated with a civil-rights probe in 30 years.

U.S. sues controversial Arizona sheriff in civil-rights investigation [LAT]