A South Burlington police detective is suing the Chittenden County prosecutor for defamation.
Detective Corporal Jack O’Connor claims State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan attacked his credibility during a 2008 civil rights trial and then waged a person vendetta against him.
The Burlington Free Press says the dispute arises from comments Donovan made during a 2008 civil-rights trial in federal court in Burlington, where he testified at the behest of a man who sued O’Connor for racial-profiling.
Donovan testified he rejected a request by O’Connor for a search warrant in an unrelated case.
Donovan says O’Connor’s lawsuit is without merit. And he says his office continues to prosecute cases referred by O’Connor.