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Criminal Justice Commission Will be Down a Member in Colangelo Case. Embattled CSA Provided Affidavit for Plaintiff Represented by CJC Member Against Norwalk Police.

The small world of Connecticut government will be felt in any deliberations the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) undertakes to determine the fate of beleaguered Chief State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo. CJC member Robert Berke represents New Canaan resident Christopher Paladino in his action against two Norwalk police officers for allegedly arresting him on false charges.

Paladino alleges Norwalk police officers Anthony Del Pino and Ronald Roncinske obtained an arrest warrant for him based on false information arising from a September 30, 2018, incident that involved a small amount of marijuana and a dispute over whether Paladino possessed a valid permit to carry a weapon in a motor vehicle.

The criminal charges against Paladino were dismissed on October 24, 2018. Berke filed Paladino’s lawsuit in February 2020. According to Federal District Court records, two counts have been dismissed. The remaining counts are the subject of the defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

The plaintiff has responded to that summary judgment motion with an affidavit. It’s from the state’s attorney in the Stamford Norwalk district at the time of Mr. Paladino’s arrest. He states, “At about 2:46 p.m. on October 23, 2018, I had a telephone conversation with Norwalk Police Department Deputy Chief James Walsh and advised him to have his department ‘stand down’, and not arrest Christopher Paladino because he had a valid CT pistol permit.”

Richard Colangelo continues in his affidavit for the plaintiff, “I was later advised that the Norwalk Police Department ignored my direct order and arrested Christopher Paladino for the unlawful possession of a pistol on his person and in a vehicle.”

Colangelo signed the affidavit under oath in Rocky Hill on January 18, 2022. In addition to serving on the CJC, Berke has served on the Town of Woodbridge Board of Ethics. He will understand better than most that this is an unfortunate intersection of interests and positions at a crucial moment in Connecticut’s public life.

Published February 4, 2022.