The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is facing a lawsuit claiming the sheriff and a deputy violated the civil rights of a man by arresting and charging him with a DUI, even though he passed sobriety tests.

40-year-old Cornelius Caldwell says the incident has him questioning Florida’s legal system. We spoke with Caldwell and his attorney who filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Tampa a few days ago.

"He told me, ‘Put your hands up!’ Immediately I thought, something was definitely wrong,” explains victim Cornelius Caldwell.

“If you are a minority, you should be concerned when driving your car. And, that is a thing we should not have as a country. We should be better,” said Caldwell's attorney, Jacob V. Stuart, Jr.

Stuart and Caldwell discussed a recent lawsuit filed against the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office claiming Caldwell’s April 2013 arrest on the charge of driving under the influence was a violation of his civil rights.

Caldwell says he and a couple of friends were driving from Dade City to Leesburg around 6 a.m. to go fishing when a Pasco County Deputy pulled him over initially for going 65 in a 55 mile per hour zone and a tag light not working.

But after being pulled over, the deputy says he showed numerous signs of impairment, according to the arrest report. Because of the DUI charge, Caldwell had to be detained for a 12-hour detox.

“I do not drink. I do not do any drugs. It’s just, actually, devastating,” said Caldwell.

Caldwell blew a zero on a Breathalyzer, and passed a field sobriety test. He told us investigators even accused him of trying to “throw off” a urine analysis after he says he dropped the cup in the toilet because he was so nervous. The 40-year-old mechanic and self-described outdoorsman says calling his family for help was difficult and their disbelief fuels his need to continue this fight.

“They didn’t believe it. As a matter of fact, they still don’t believe it today. Everybody that knows me don’t [believe it],” says Caldwell.

We did contact the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and were told they have no comment at this time pending litigation.

Ultimately, the criminal DUI charge was dismissed and Caldwell received a warning for the tag light infraction.