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PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona State University student has sued the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, claiming two deputies used racial profiling when they arrested him and held him for 15 hours before he was released.

Blake Smalley, who is black, claims the deputies approached him in September at a gas station in Cave Creek and took him into custody for resisting arrest and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle, charges that were later dropped.

The Arizona Republic reports the 21-year-old's car had run out of gas a few blocks away. Smalley's attorney, Robert Trop, says his client did nothing wrong, and was only arrested because he is black.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Phoenix last month.

The sheriff's office declined to comment.