Sheriff Joe responds to smutty comic

PHOENIX, Ariz. – In response to a vicious verbal assault by comic George Lopez on Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Mitt Romney during a live HBO special, Arpaio has issued a challenge he doubts Lopez will accept.

After joking Romney was a closeted Latino because his father was born in Mexico, Lopez ripped into Arpaio with a string of obscenities and insults.

And while we're at it Sheriff Joe in Arizona – f--- you you f---ing puto. How about that? F--- you. You fat motherf---er. F--- you. I said I was going to talk some s---. F--- you Sheriff Joe you f---ing puto. F--- you. F--- you.

George Lopez

The special ran on HBO Saturday night – with no F-bombs censored.

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In response, Arpaio told WND: "Lopez should quit hiding behind a microphone."

The 80-year-old sheriff challenged Lopez to come to Phoenix and meet him at High Noon. He said he doubts Lopez has the courage to do so.

Watch Sheriff Joe Arpaio's latest press conference on Barack Obama's identity problems on WND TV's live-stream coverage beginning Tuesday at 5:30 pm Eastern.