An Arizona man and two family members have filed a notice of claim seeking a total of $3.25 million in damages from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department related to a February search connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. The claim alleges wrongful detention, property damage, and the use of false evidence in obtaining a search warrant.

Carlos Palazuelos, who was detained during the operation at the family’s Rio Rico residence on Feb. 10, is pursuing $2.5 million in damages. Two other claimants, Daniel and Josefina Maddox, are seeking $500,000 and $250,000 respectively. The family contends the search and detention were unjustified and conducted without probable cause.

According to the claim, deputies drew their firearms on Palazuelos, took him into custody, and held him for seven to eight hours before releasing him without filing any charges. During the detention, deputies confiscated his cellphone and driver’s license. Daniel Maddox, who was present at the home, alleges he was handcuffed and held under armed guard outside during the search. Josefina Maddox, the homeowner, claims her property was damaged during the operation.

The notice further asserts that authorities obtained the search warrant through a sealed application containing “false or baseless evidence.” It also accuses Sheriff Chris Nanos and his department of publicly identifying Palazuelos as a “person of interest,” thereby damaging his reputation. The claim states that despite requests, the sheriff’s office has refused to retract these statements or clear Palazuelos’s name.

Family attorney Jesse Showalter emphasized the need for the sheriff’s office to acknowledge the alleged errors. “The first thing that I’d like to see is Sheriff Nanos and the Pima County Sheriff’s Office come forward and say, ‘Carlos, this was a mistake. Carlos is not a person of interest. He is not an investigative lead. We messed up. We need to see some accountability obviously,’” Showalter said.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation. The department’s involvement in the search and detention follows an investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, but officials have not publicly elaborated on the details of the case or the reasons for targeting Palazuelos.