Poway

A San Diego man and his son, arrested by sheriff’s deputies in Poway last April in connection with a reported rape, have filed wrongful arrest claims totaling $1 million against San Diego County.

Jorge Garibay Contreras, 46, and his son, Jorge Garibay Primero, 19, say they were arrested on April 25 and held for seven hours. The two, who were never charged, were among some 80 Latinos detained after the reported rape. The arrests were denounced by civil rights advocates but defended by the Sheriff’s Department.

The older Garibay charges that he was “physically and mentally abused” by the sheriff’s officers. Both he and his son are legal U.S. residents, said Edmundo Espinoza, the lawyer who is representing them. They are seeking $500,000 each.

Last week, five men and a woman who were held up to two months in connection with the rape filed claims against San Diego County totaling $6 million. On June 30, the San Diego County district attorney’s office dropped charges against the six, all of whom are Mexican citizens.

Sheriff’s Department officials have declined to comment on the claims.