Deputy Who Arrested Mel Gibson After Anti-Semitic Rant Files Discrimination Lawsuit

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy James Mee, who arrested Mel Gibson for drunk driving in 2006, alleges he was harassed and discriminated against for including Gibson’s infamous anti-Semitic rant in his initial arrest report.

During the incident, Mee claims that he included Gibson’s tirade to illustrate the actor/director’s level of intoxication. "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," Gibson said, according to Mee. He claims his superiors pressured him into omitting the Gibson rant from the initial report.

Subsequently, portions of the deputy’s report were leaked to gossip site TMZ, which incited a firestorm of controversy for Gibson.

Since the incident, Mee, 55, who is Jewish, alleges that he has been passed over for promotions and unfairly scrutinized by the L.A County Sheriff’s Department.

"When considering the evidence, a jury could easily see the discrimination, retaliation and harassment James Mee suffered at the Sheriff's Department," stated his attorney Etan Z. Lorant.

Sheriff’s officials have denied Mee’s allegations.

"We look forward to telling the whole story," said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Mee’s attorney claimed Gibson was given preferable treatment due to his friendship with Sheriff Lee Baca. Sheriff’s officials denied any intervention by Baca.