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Merritt files $10M claim against Arizona, Ducey

Posted at 5:29 AM, Mar 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-14 12:54:20-04

The accused freeway shooting suspect Leslie Merritt Jr. is now responding to those who put him behind bars.

He is responding with a $10 million notice of claim.

Merritt’s attorneys, David Jon, Jason Lamm and Ulises Ferragut claim investigators rushed to judgment and failed to provide any evidence that their client was present at any of the shooting scenes.

Named in the claim, first obtained by ABC15, is the State of Arizona, Maricopa County, Governor Doug Ducey and Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery.

The claim states: "Defendants had Mr. Merritt, age 21, arrested and accused him of four separate instances of shooting at vehicles on the I-10 freeway during August 2015. Defendants have failed to produce any evidence that Mr. Merritt was present at the scene of any of these shootings, let alone was a perpetrator in any crime."

The freeway shooting suspect’s claim seeks to recoup lost wages, cover legal fees and compensation for emotional distress.

RELATED: Who is the Phoenix freeway shooting suspect?

Merritt has been behind bars for almost six months.

He is being charged with four of the confirmed 11 freeway shootings that happened in 2015.

The Department of Public Safety has not asked for the public’s help since Merritt was arrested for less than half of the freeway shootings.

RELATED: DPS accused of lying to freeway shooting witness, hiding evidence

FULL COVERAGE: Phoenix freeway shootings