Pattis calls out ‘tattletale’ police in opposition to state’s gag order request

STAMFORD — Police should put up or shut up in the case of Fotis Dulos, his lawyer said in a legal filing Monday, opposing a request from a prosecutor for a gag order.

“If the state genuinely believes it has the evidence to support an arrest of Mr. Dulos, it should come forward with it,” defense attorney Norm Pattis wrote in a memo filed Monday that targeted police leaks in the case.

“Mr. Dulos denies any involvement in the disappearance of his wife,” Pattis said. “He has the right to respond to damaging public comments fueled in large part by the warrant filed on existing charges and the sotto voce whispering of tattletale officers whispering innuendo to eager reporters. To expect, much less to order, Mr. Dulos and his counsel to remain silent would be grievous error.”

The 15page memorandum comes after Pattis and State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo went back and forth for more than a halfhour Aug. 9 during Fotis Dulos’ latest court appearance in the disappearance of his estranged wife.

Fotis Dulos, 52, and Michelle Troconis, 44, have each pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in connection with the May 24 disappearance of 50yearold Jennifer Dulos.

Troconis appeared briefly in court Monday morning. Fotis Dulos is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 13.

Colangelo is expected to file a memorandum in response to Pattis’ before Judge John Blawie issues a ruling on the request.

The prosecutor said during the Aug. 9 hearing Pattis is free to represent his client, but he must do so within the bounds of the state’s rules for lawyers. He said by speaking publicly about the case, Pattis had spread misinformation to potential jurors.