Three men sue Pima sheriff for $3.25 million over arrests

Three men detained and later released during the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, have initiated legal action against the Pima County Sheriff's Department, alleging wrongful arrest and property damage. A notice of claim, a required precursor to a lawsuit under Arizona law, was filed on Monday, July 27, 2026, seeking a combined $3.25 million in damages from the department, Sheriff Chris Nanos, and Detective Earl Gieron.

The claimants are Carlos Palazuelos, Daniel Maddox, and Maddox's mother, Josefina Maddox. The legal filing stems from law enforcement actions taken in February during the search for Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old Tucson woman who has been missing since January 31, 2026. Her disappearance is being investigated as a kidnapping.

According to the claim, Carlos Palazuelos, a 27-year-old delivery driver, was arrested at gunpoint on February 10 and held for approximately seven to eight hours before being released without charges. The document alleges the arrest was conducted publicly to damage his reputation and implicate him in the kidnapping, calling it a misguided attempt by the sheriff's...