Witness: Stops in Arpaio racial profiling case were proper

Kathryn Kodor of Phoenix, holds a sign of support for Sheriff Joe Arpaio at the Sandra Day O'Connor Courthouse in downtown Phoenix, before the start of the racial-profiling case against the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, July 24, 2012. Lawyers who say that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office disproportionately singled out Latinos in the patrols accused him of launching some sweeps based on emails and letters that don't allege crimes, but complain only that "dark-skinned people" are congregating in a given area or speaking Spanish. Arpaio has long denied racial profiling allegations. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Nick Oza)

One of the last witnesses at a trial aimed at settling allegations over whether Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office racially profiles Latinos says officers acted properly in pulling over the people who brought the case to court.

Bennie Click, a police-practices expert hired by Arpaio’s defense team, says he reviewed the cases in question and concluded the officers had lawful reasons to make the stops.

The trial is expected to end Thursday afternoon.

Lawyers will make their closing arguments by filing briefs.

A group of Latinos who brought the civil case against the sheriff’s office says Arpaio’s deputies pulled over some vehicles only to make immigration status checks.

Arpaio has denies the racial profiling allegations and says deputies only stop people when they think a crime has been committed.