Brothel neighbors sue Tucson police

A couple who live down the street from an illegal massage parlor are suing the Tucson Police Department and city, alleging that negligence by the police led to an assault on one of the plaintiffs, court documents show.

Christopher and Annemarie Rechlin are seeking reimbursement for medical expenses incurred as a result of a November 2014 incident in which the alleged operator of the brothel, Ulises Ruiz, struck Annemarie with a bat during a confrontation on the north side.

In May, Rechlins filed a preliminary claim saying they intended to sue the city of Tucson for $2 million. It’s unclear from the current complaint how much they are actually seeking and the couple did not respond to request for comment.

The Rechlins claim TPD had been investigating Ruiz and the alleged prostitution ring for more than three years but failed to act on probable cause and arrest any suspects, according to the lawsuit filed last week in Pima County Superior Court.

In a June press conference, police Chief Roberto Villaseñor admitted the department had been investigating the businesses By Spanish and Daisy’s Delights since 2011 and had discovered the involvement of several department employees.

As a result of the investigation, 10 police employees were either terminated or resigned, but none were charged with any crimes.

In the lawsuit, the Rechlins state they began reporting prostitution activity at the property down the street in May 2014. They filed complaints with the department on more than one occasion, and eventually drove to the Miracle Mile police station and asked to speak to an officer.

They were told the complaint would be turned over to the appropriate department, and several days later received a visit from an undercover officer, the document said.

“He shared with the plaintiff that they were also aware of the prostitution over the Internet,” the lawsuit said. “He also encouraged the plaintiffs if they noticed any illegal activity to photograph vehicles if possible and call his personal number.”

During the altercation last November, the Rechlins were photographing vehicles in the parking lot of the massage parlor, when Ruiz confronted them and demanded that Annemarie give him the phone that she had been taking pictures with, according to a police incident report.

When she didn’t comply, Ruiz struck her on the shoulder with a small bat, took her phone and fled while the Rechlins called 911.

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“Upon arrival of the Tucson Police Department, plaintiffs were unlawfully detained by officers for five hours,” the lawsuit said.

In addition, the Rechlins say that Annemarie was never offered medical attention and the responding officers never even looked at her injuries. She was read her rights, placed in a patrol car, swabbed for DNA and interrogated repeatedly.

“One responding female officer flat out told plaintiffs, ‘You (expletive deleted) up our whole investigation and you should have just minded your own (expletive deleted) business,’” the lawsuit said.

Ruiz was detained by officers that night and admitted to striking her with the small bat, but he was released at the scene and arrested more than a month later, police records show.

“Despite repeated requests for help, reporting of the illegal activity and of the danger that illegal activity presented to plaintiffs ... Tucson Police Department failed to do their part to take any action to protect plaintiffs,” the Rechlins wrote in their claim.

Had police followed the probable cause they’d obtained in the three years before the confrontation, Ruiz would not have assaulted Annemarie, either due to his incarceration or otherwise, the lawsuit said.

After his arrest last December, Ruiz was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but accepted an agreement last month, pleading guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

In January, police raided nearly a dozen properties associated with the businesses, seizing cash, cars and hundred of items they say was used to facilitate prostitution.

To date, no arrests have been made and no charges filed.

Arbitration between the Rechlins and representatives from the city will take place.