Chicago cop Anthony Abbate convicted of beating barmaid

London Times ^ | 06/03/2009 | Nico Hines

[iowamark]

An 18-stone Chicago police officer faces up to five years in jail after he was filmed repeatedly striking a woman in a bar.

A judge last night dismissed Anthony Abbate’s claim that he was acting in self-defence after a barmaid attempted to stop him coming behind the bar. A video of the officer’s violent response has become infamous in the United States as it was replayed on television and the internet.

Last night, Abbate was convicted of aggravated battery by John J Fleming, a Cook County Circuit judge. The policeman was cleared of two charges of official misconduct by the judge, who said there was no evidence Abbate abused his position as a police officer during the assault. Karolina Obrycka, a Polish immigrant, was beaten when she refuse to serve any more drinks to the inebriated policeman in February 2007.

The incident was captured on a CCTV camera, which recorded the drunken officer going behind the bar after he was told to leave by Ms Obrycka. As she pushed and pulled at him, Abbate appeared to shrug her off. He then suddenly fell or was pulled off balance, crashing back into the bar, his head bouncing hard off a shelf support. Abbate responded by slamming the barmaid against the bar, and then violently throwing her to the floor. He repeatedly kicked and punched her on the floor as she struggled to evade the blows. He held her by one hand as he took powerful swings at her head with his right fist.

[iowamark]

It has taken over two years to convict this guy and he still walks free.

[cripplecreek]

It shouldn’t have taken but about 15 seconds to convict.

[the long march]

Tell me again why overindulging is a good thing? This guy is a tool. He very may well be an alcoholic. In days gone by he would have been taken behind the barn and horsewhipped

[Glenn]

The wimp watching the whole thing needs bitch slapped as well.

[Radl]

This is a Chicago cop. I am shocked SHE isn’t in jail.

[KarlInOhio]

If there hadn't been a video he would never have been arrested, much less indicted and convicted. So the lesson for the police is:

A. Act like you are always on video. Stay sober and treat people with respect.
or B. After beating the hell of of a woman half your size, remember to look for video cameras and have your buddies "confiscate" any incriminating evidence.

[DallasDeb]

What a coward.

[iowamark]

video of the attack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49kgG0s7lVk

[LimaLimaMikeFoxtrot]

Piece of garbage. I generally support LEOs but this puke’s actions help to give them all a bad name. I hope he gets the maximum.

[jaydubya2]

I can't understand how the intimidation and conspiracy charges were dropped after reading this tidbit:

"According to the indictment, a woman acting as an intermediary for Abbate told a man, whom Obrycka's attorney Terry Ekl identified as the bar manager, that Abbate or other police officers would plant illegal drugs on bar employees or customers and arrest them if the videotape of the beating was used against him.

Ekl said Friday that the bar manager made an audiotape of that conversation with the woman, whom he said was a bar employee and friend of Abbate. The day after the beating, Ekl said, Abbate told the bar employee that he already had run the license plates of the bar manager and Obrycka through police databases, and added that if they turned the tape over to authorities, police might find drugs in their cars or in the bar, or Abbate would harass patrons."

[OCCASparky]

Something tells me the powers that be in Chicago are more concerned with the multi-million dollar settlement this woman will get out of this more than any sense of justice being done.

[Abathar]

The worst part of that video in my eyes? All the other men sitting around watching it happen and not a single one raised a hand to help that girl.

[dljordan]

“Piece of garbage. I generally support LEOs but this puke’s actions help to give them all a bad name. I hope he gets the maximum.”

His brother, who is also a police officer, is a real piece of work too.

[Big_Monkey]

"It has taken over two years to convict this guy and he still walks free. "

If this had been one of my sisters, or daughters, the least of this cop's problems would be what the law would do to him. He'd have to sit with his back to the wall for the rest of his life.

[LuxMaker]

Duplicate

[iowamark]

It is not a duplicate, it is a different article. In any case, FR search must not be working as I searched for the word “cop.”

[Paved Paradise]

How heavy is 18 stone anyway?

[Cooter]

FYI, from the title search page:

Limitations: Only article titles can be searched and words with three or fewer letters are not searched at all.

[Paved Paradise]

I am outraged that the other guy there just watched. Just mortified. My husband would never have watched something like that. There were a lot of things that guy could’ve thrown if he didn’t want to get too close. Unreal.

[Paved Paradise]

Thank you. Thank you. Absolutely right. That video really had my blood boiling. I cannot even imagine watching that. I’m a petite lady and even I would’ve been throwing something at the guy. He couldn’t fight off everyone! What a bunch of wussies.