Cop's Bar Beating Case Apparently Headed For Trial

CHICAGO (STNG) - An expected plea deal in the case of Anthony Abbate -- the Chicago cop whose beating of a female bartender was captured on a video seen around the world -- has fallen apart, lawyers said Tuesday.

Additionally, the city's Independent Police Review Authority on Tuesday recommended Abbate be fired from the Police Department.

Abbate, 39, is charged with beating Karolina Obrycka at Jesse's Shortstop Inn on the Northwest Side on Feb. 19, 2007. Last month, his lawyer Peter Hickey entered plea negotiations with prosecutors, and Abbate had been expected to plead guilty Tuesday.

Abbate has been indicted on 15 counts, including intimidation of a witness and aggravated battery.

But at a court appearance Tuesday morning, Hickey told Judge John Fleming negotiations had foundered. “I feel that they have not proven fruitful,” Hickey said.

The breakdown means Abbate's case could go to trial. Hickey said he plans to resume his own investigation in preparation for trial. A status hearing was scheduled for April 30, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office.

Expecting a guilty plea, Obrycka and her lawyer Terry Ekl attended today’s hearing. When Abbate later passed Obrycka in the courthouse hallway, she turned away from him.

Obrycka said it was the first time she had seen Abbate since the beating. “He looks as big as he was that first time. He's just a big guy,” she said.

Seeing him was “not a pleasure... Just a moment ago when he was passing, I was like, I'm just gonna go [over] there... I was like, I don't want to see what's gonna happen. But next to my attorney I feel safe.”
 
The IPRA recommendation is the result of an investigation into events that occurred over a four-hour period on Feb. 19, 2007, while the off-duty Abbate was patronizing the tavern at 5425 W. Belmont Ave., according to a release from the IPRA.
 
While allegedly intoxicated, Abbate verbally and physically mistreated three individuals during encounters recorded on a surveillance camera, the release said. Abbate is also accused of making threats to misuse his police powers in retaliation against the owners of Jesse’s Shortstop Inn if they did not give him the surveillance tape, the release said.
 
“Officer Abbate is sworn to uphold the law, but over a period of several hours, he continued to break the law and later misused his position and power as a sworn police officer in an attempt to cover up his misconduct,” IPRA Chief Administrator Ilana B. R. Rosenzweig said in the release. “He has brought discredit upon the Police Department and the City of Chicago.”
 
The IPRA’s recommendation has been accepted by Police Supt. Jody Weis, who will present it to the Chicago Police Board, the release said.
 
The IPRA is an independent City department that investigates allegations of misconduct by Chicago Police Department employees. It operates separately from the Police Department and has subpoena authority.