Former state Senator Justine Wadsack is pursuing a federal lawsuit against Tucson police, alleging her civil rights were violated during a criminal speeding stop last year. The incident occurred near the University of Arizona campus, where she was cited for traveling 71 mph in a 35 mph zone after the arresting officer, Ryder Schrage, recorded her speed on radar.

Wadsack contends that this traffic stop was an orchestrated effort to silence her politically. In her suit filed with the U.S. District Court in Arizona, she claims city officials and police officers conspired against her, allegedly intending to “chill Ms. Wadsack’s political free speech” and interfere with her right to serve in public office.

According to her attorney, Dennis Wilenchik, negative media coverage stemming from the episode provided a significant advantage to her primary opponent, Vince Leach. Wadsack asserts she has incurred over $8 million in damages as a result of the city’s actions, which she claims extend beyond financial loss to emotional distress and injury to her reputation.

In January, the charges against Wadsack were dismissed after she completed a defensive driving course. However, due to a provision in the Arizona Constitution granting legislators immunity from arrest during the legislative session, she was initially not ticketed at the time of the stop, despite the speeding allegation.

The confrontation between Wadsack and Officer Schrage is captured on body cameras, revealing her insistence that she was not speeding. Yet, Schrage responded affirmatively, citing the active radar use. Wadsack later identified herself as a senator, and shortly after, the audio from the officer’s camera was muted, reportedly while he checked with superiors.

Her lawsuit claims that even if speeding occurred, it was irrelevant to the allegations of targeting and conspiracy. Wilenchik argues that stopping Wadsack was unjustified, as her legislative identification should have afforded her a degree of protection. He also contends that evidence of her supposed speeding has not been provided by the police.

Wadsack further alleges that the police department’s actions were executed as part of a plan to diminish her reputation due to her legislative initiatives that conflicted with police interests. Two specific bills she proposed aimed at altering voting procedures and limiting municipal home rule, neither of which passed.

In June, Wadsack was reportedly involved in assisting a constituent complaining of police harassment. Shortly thereafter, the Tucson Police Department publicly endorsed her opponent in the Republican primary. Wadsack claims this was part of a strategy to undermine her candidacy through adverse publicity.

Adding to her grievances, she disputes claims by police that she expressed feelings of “political persecution,” as documented in an officer’s report. Wadsack labels the city’s radar operation as flawed, emphasizing a “policy of inaction” that fails to uphold constitutional standards related to scientific reliability.