PHOENIX — A Valley man who was acquitted after being charged with murdering his stepdaughter in 2001 is filing a lawsuit against local officials.
Michael Turney was released from jail in July 2023 in the middle of his trial due to a lack of evidence. Now, he's suing the Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County and former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, among others.
RELATED: Michael Turney was acquitted of murder charges. So what happens next with Alissa Turney's case?
Turney is suing over mistreatment while he was in police custody, saying he did not get proper medical care or meals, and also claims that he was wrongfully imprisoned, according to court documents. He claims prosectors knew there was insufficient evidence in his case but kept him in jail.
Turney claims he was injured when Phoenix police arrested him using a "moving armored car" and claims officers put fists against his throat to try and get a confession, court documents show.
Turney is seeking more than $300,000 in damages.
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