Mexican family wants confiscated license back

The confiscated driver’s license of a Mexican man pulled over by a Gilbert officer accused of racial profiling last month has not been returned, and the man and his family are raising questions of police misconduct.

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Armando Rodriguez Morales’ license was taken and his car towed during a Dec. 14 traffic stop because the officer believed the man’s identification and insurance papers were falsified.

The license and insurance have been verified by the Mexican Consulate, and Morales and his family don’t understand why he can’t get the license back.

“I think somebody messed up here,” said Bob Meyers, a Mesa resident whose daughter is married to Morales’ son. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it hasn’t been destroyed by now.”

Morales’ traffic stop launched an internal investigation into racial profiling claims against officer Chad Wright, the patrolman who ticketed him.

Raul Rodriguez, Morales’ son, said he has spoken to several Gilbert police officials, including Chief Tim Dorn, regarding the misplaced license. However, he said he hasn’t been given a clear answer.

Gilbert police said they handed the license over the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division as part of standard procedure.

However, the MVD has not been able to locate the license, spokeswoman Cydney DeModica said. Several MVD officials said they have no knowledge about the license or the situation.

Gilbert police said they send suspended and revoked licenses to the MVD, and also turn over licenses of impaired drivers. In those situations, Phoenix and Mesa police also send licenses to the MVD.

But Morales’ license was never suspended or revoked, and he was stopped on a violation of illegal backing, not on suspicion of being impaired.

Mesa police Detective Steve Berry said Mesa police don’t turn over Mexican licenses.

“Arizona driver’s licenses are the property of Arizona, which is why they are sent,” he said. “But there isn’t a reason to send them a Mexican license.”

Gilbert police declined to say why they sent the license to the MVD or disclose more information because it’s part of the internal investigation of Wright.

Since that investigation was launched, the Tribune learned that Wright has accumulated dozens of citizen complaints, including other claims of racial profiling. He also tickets Hispanic drivers at twice the rate of other Gilbert officers, police records show.

Morales was visiting from Mexico when he was pulled over in Mesa by Wright, who was working a East Valley DUI task force.

Morales’ car was later released without charge, and the charges of a having a falsified license and no insurance were dropped.