The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Conn. officer seeks dismissal of bias charges

Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
Updated 1 min. ago
Coroner called to Caesar Creek Lake where boater fell overboard
Updated 15 min. ago
Road closing for railroad repairs
11:51 a.m.
Worker falls 20 feet from utility pole
11:14 a.m.
Out-of-state shoppers arrested in clothing theft
10:14 a.m.
> More headlines

The Associated Press 7:36 AM Friday, February 10, 2012

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — One of four Connecticut police officers accused of abusing and harassing Latinos is asking a federal judge to dismiss the charges because of the publicity the case has received.

The lawyer for East Haven officer Jason Zullo filed a motion to dismiss the charges Thursday.

The lawyer, Norman Pattis, says in the motion that federal prosecutors engaged in "Barnum-like pre-trial publicity," including a "cheap theater of press conferences and name-calling," and should not have unsealed the indictments in the case.

Pattis also says Zullo will have a hard time getting a fair trial.

A spokesman for the Connecticut U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.

All four officers have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to violate the rights of East Haven Latinos by using excessive force, unlawful searches and other harassment.

___

February 10, 2012 12:30 PM EST

Share this article