Judge rejects alleged Izzy's bar shooter's request to drop attorneys

A Will County judge rejected a motion from the alleged to obtain new counsel after he claimed there had been a “breakdown” in communication with his attorneys, according to court records.

On Monday, Judge Dan Rippy struck a motion from Patrick Gleason, 57, of Crest Hill, to drop his attorney Chuck Bretz because of “possible underlying issues” as to his fitness, according to court records.

Gleason has remained in jail since March 11, 2018, after he was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated discharge of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of bartender Daniel Rios III, 52, and the wounding of Thomas Izquierdo, the son of Izzy’s owner, Alfonso Izquierdo.

Gleason filed a motion Nov. 20 to drop Bretz because he allegedly refuses to listen to him or “allow him to give any directions on his case,” according to court records.

“Present counsel refuses to listen to any of defendant’s requests,” Gleason said in his motion.

Bretz did not adopt Gleason’s motion, according to court records. The case has been scheduled for a fitness status hearing Jan. 10.

Rippy ordered a fitness evaluation for Gleason on June 28 after Bretz argued in a motion “there is a bona fide doubt as to [Gleason’s] fitness to stand trial.”

Bretz’s motion said this bona fide doubt surfaced while he and an investigator in his employ spoke with Gleason and Gleason’s “neighbors and family members.”