Two Arizona men detained during the investigation into the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, along with the mother of one of the men, have filed a notice of claim against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and a detective under his command. The claim, which serves as a formal precursor to a potential lawsuit, alleges wrongful arrest and property damage.
Carlos Palazuelos was detained on February 10 for questioning during the search for Guthrie, the mother of a national television news anchor. He was released several hours later without charges. On the same day, Daniel Maddox was placed in handcuffs at his residence and held for several hours while authorities conducted a search of the property. His mother, Josefina Maddox, who owns the home, is also named in the claim due to alleged property damage.
The notice, dated Monday, states that deputies arrested Palazuelos at gunpoint and held him without probable cause for approximately seven to eight hours. The arrest was conducted in public view, according to the document. The claim further alleges that Palazuelos is innocent and that his home was ransacked during the search. It cites physical, emotional, and reputational harm to Palazuelos.
A significant portion of the claim addresses public statements made by Sheriff Nanos. The sheriff posted on social media that a person had been arrested and was being questioned in connection with the Guthrie investigation. The claim argues that this post, combined with official statements from the sheriff’s department, portrayed Palazuelos as a suspect to the public.
The notice states that despite requests from legal counsel, Sheriff Nanos and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department have refused to retract their statements or clarify that Palazuelos is innocent and had no involvement in the case. Palazuelos, who works as a delivery driver, has publicly stated he was not involved in the incident.
Regarding Daniel Maddox, the claim describes his detention as wrongful and states it caused him significant physical, mental, and emotional suffering. According to the notice, armed men in military gear pointed weapons at Maddox and ordered him to lie on the ground in the hallway of his home after he emerged from his room to investigate a loud noise. Maddox was subsequently held under guard at a van for several hours.
The Guthrie kidnapping case remains unsolved. The notice of claim lists settlement demands of $2.5 million for Palazuelos, $500,000 for Daniel Maddox, and $250,000 for Josefina Maddox. Named as subjects in the claim are Sheriff Nanos, a detective, the county, and the sheriff’s department.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and county government have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the notice of claim. The legal action raises questions about the balance between aggressive law enforcement tactics in high-profile cases and the protection of individual rights during criminal investigations.
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