Deputy Who Arrested Mel Gibson Sues Sheriff's Department For Religious Discrimination And Harassment

Nearly four years after Sheriff's Deputy James Mee arrested Mel Gibson for the infamous Malibu drunk driving incident in July 2006, he still "fears for his life every day because of retaliation," says his lawyer Etan Z. Lorant, who is handling the case with co-council Yael Trock.

Deputy Mee, who is Jewish, is now suing the County of Los Angeles for religious discrimination, retaliation and harassment/hostile work environment. After the 2006 incident took place, Mee had written in his report that Gibson had made anti-Semitic remarks at the time of the arrest. It was that part of the report that started the controversy.

Mee's attorney, Yael Trock, tells X17online exclusively:

"Our client, Mr. Mee, was ordered to remove the anti-Semitic remarks from his report and participate in a cover-up. Not only that, he was suspected of leaking the report to an entertainment website. He has a 16-year career with the Sheriff's Department and is very proud of that. Once the Mel Gibson incident happened, he was given no more promotions, he got transferred and had a search warrant issued in which his home and computer were searched. He never wanted to remove those anti-Semitic remarks from the report, but he was ordered to do so by his commanding lieutenant. Then he was accused of divulging information about the case simply because he's Jewish. That's why we're suing for religious discrimination."

Prior to the 2006 incident, Gibson had done a public service announcement with the Sheriff's Department promoting the organization. Trock says, "In essense, he was their spokesperson. So when word got out of Mel Gibson's arrest, the Sheriff's Department wasn't happy. Since Mel Gibson was friendly with the department, that's when the cover-up began."

Deputy Mee, who told his supervisors that he believed Gibson received preferential treatment, says he was singled out by the department during a four-year investigation as to who leaked the details about Gibson's anti-Semitic rant.

Etan Z. Lorant adds:

"Our client is being treated unfairly for treating Mel Gibson the same as everybody else."

According to Mee's legal team, there is no evidence that their client leaked the confidential report. They also tell X17online that despite the Sheriff's Department wanting to file criminal charges against Mee, the DA rejected that attempt.

The papers were served to the County of Los Angeles yesterday ... giving them 30 days to respond.

Mee is suing for an unspecified monitary "compensation for pain, suffering and the humiliation he had to endure." Lorant adds, "He just wants to go back to work and not be scared."