Sergeant Michael Smith was implicated in a 2017 incident where deputies allegedly ambushed and violently assaulted Ramiro Huerta after he reported suspicious activity on his property. The deputies, under Smith’s direction, reportedly turned off their body cameras and hid in the bushes to surprise Huerta. A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and several deputies, including Smith, alleging excessive force and violation of constitutional rights. The case proceeded to trial in May 2022. ([prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/federal-civil-rights-trial-to-proceed-against-tulare-sheriff-office-301541324.html?utm_source=openai))
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