Judge refuses to lower bond for ex-cop accused of threatening Fox Lake investigators

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Joseph Battaglia, a former Chicago cop who spent 25 years on the force and retired in 2012, appeared in court Tuesday. He is accused of making threats of violence to those investigating the death of Fox Lake Police Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz.

Two weeks since Lt. Gliniewicz was found dead of a gunshot wound, facts remain guarded and speculation abounds. The timeline since has included a woman who allegedly concocted a story about seeing three suspects, and now a retired cop is accused of threatening harm to people at the top of the Gliniewicz death investigation.

"Mr. Battaglia is not a violent person. He has never harmed anyone," said Myron Goldstin, Battaglia's attorney.

Battaglia is charged with two counts of felony disorderly conduct for profanity-laced phone calls he allegedly made last Friday threatening to harm George Filenko, head of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, and Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd, unless the Gliniewicz death was declared a suicide.

Bataglia's attorney branded the calls "stupid, wrong and reckless" and says Battaglia has no knowledge of nor connection to the Gliniewicz death investigation.

"As a police officer, a former police officer, trying to get more info - I know it was never his intention to harm anyone. That's all I can say right now," Goldstin said.

Battaglia had hoped to have his bond lowered from $100,000, but the judge refused.

Filenko was in court Tuesday, but left without talking to reporters. The investigators he leads do not yet have, according to a spokesman, ballistics and gunshot residue tests, and continue to wait on "significant DNA" recovered from the scene of Gliniewicz's death.

The task force is still looking for three "persons of interest" based on Gliniewicz's last radio transmission, but it has not closed the door on other possibilities, such as suicide.

Battaglia's bond was set $100,000. His next court appearance is almost three weeks away.

Authorities said phone records show that Battaglia also made numerous calls to news outlets. A man identifying himself as Joey Battaglia left a voicemail for the ABC7 I-Team - also on Friday - but it contained no mention of the Gliniewicz investigation, and asked for a return call. ABC7 had no additional contact with him.