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Chicago Barkeep Sues City in Beating
Forbes & AP ^

Posted on 04/30/2007 6:33:24 PM PDT by Omega Man II

Chicago Barkeep Sues City in Beating

By MICHAEL TARM 04.30.07, 8:12 PM ET

A Chicago bartender believed to have been beaten by an off-duty police officer in an attack caught on video sued the officer and the city Monday.

The federal civil rights lawsuit claims that damages to the bartender, the bar's owner and a manager total at least $1 million, and it accuses police of systematically covering up officers' misbehavior for years.

Security cameras showed a large man punching and kicking 115-pound Karolina Obrycka at Jesse's Shortstop Inn on Feb. 19. She is believed to have refused to serve the man more drinks.

Police identified the man as 250-pound Anthony Abbate, 38. He faces aggravated battery, intimidation, official misconduct and other felony charges.

Authorities say Abbate, through an intermediary, tried to intimidate witnesses by threatening to plant drugs on bar employees and arrest customers for drunken driving.

Obrycka, 24, said at a news conference Monday that she still fears retribution from police.

Obrycka's lawyer, Terry Ekl, said officers like Abbate feel that they are above the law because of ingrained policies, procedures and customs in the police department.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Obrycka, bar owner Eva Cepiaszuk and bar manager Martin Kolodziej. It names the officer, the city of Chicago and several others as defendants.

Jenny Hoyle, a spokeswoman for the city law department, said officials had not seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment on it. A message left with Abbate's attorney, William Fahey, was not immediately returned.

Police Superintendent Phil Cline has said Abbate had "tarnished our image worse than anybody else" in the department's history, and he vowed to speed the process of removing officers accused of misconduct from the street.

Abbate has been placed on leave, and police have said they intend to fire him.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: abuseofpower; donutwatch; drunkthugswithbadges; policeassault; thugwithabadge

1 posted on 04/30/2007 6:33:26 PM PDT by Omega Man II
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To: Omega Man II
I have no problem with the guy suing the off duty cop as an individual but why the City of Chicago.The cop was *off duty*.Sounds like a deep pockets kinda thing to me.
2 posted on 04/30/2007 6:39:29 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative ("The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism."-Karl Marx)
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To: Omega Man II

This city is as corrupt, or more, as it’s every been.


3 posted on 04/30/2007 6:40:24 PM PDT by RushCrush (Gun free zone? how about an IED-free zone in Iraq?!)
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To: Omega Man II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz6YJtnLtus


4 posted on 04/30/2007 6:40:53 PM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: Omega Man II

guy=gal


5 posted on 04/30/2007 6:41:02 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative ("The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism."-Karl Marx)
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To: Omega Man II

"The Flower of American Manhood", hard at work.

6 posted on 04/30/2007 6:43:07 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Omega Man II

Abbate is one cop that definitely deserves prison time. Everybody knows that you don’t go behind the bar unless expressly invited.


7 posted on 04/30/2007 6:43:15 PM PDT by glorgau
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To: Omega Man II

I watched the Youtube video; any male who behaves that way, cop or not, is not a man. As a cop, he is appropriately held to a higher standard. His punishment should be proportional, and humiliating to him - he should have to face the BB’s he’s got as nuts, throwing down on a woman like that, IMO. What a disgrace. I hope he wakes up with a tube steak between his cheeks.


8 posted on 04/30/2007 6:51:35 PM PDT by Harrius Magnus (Pucker up Mo, and your dhimmi Leftist freaks, here comes your Jizya!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

Well, he was originally charged with a misdemeanor until the video surfaced, and he (allegedly) used the color of his authority to intimidate witnesses, which is definitely not off duty.


9 posted on 04/30/2007 6:55:17 PM PDT by Omega Man II
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To: Omega Man II
...and he (allegedly) used the color of his authority to intimidate witnesses, which is definitely not off duty.

If it's not behavior that's consistent with,Federal law,Illinois state law and the official policies of the Chicago Police Department then it's not "on duty",IMO.

10 posted on 04/30/2007 7:10:13 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative ("The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism."-Karl Marx)
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To: Omega Man II

I’d sue the city for $10 million and then settle for $5 million.


11 posted on 04/30/2007 7:15:49 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Ben Franklin, we tried but we couldn't keep it.)
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To: Omega Man II
The victim


12 posted on 05/01/2007 12:10:24 AM PDT by iowamark (What if the Right said Fred?)
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To: Gay State Conservative
Mr. Abbate was not acting as a private citizen. He is part of a criminal conspiracy led by Richard Daley and Milorad Blagojevich.

When the public elects criminals like them, the public is accountable.

13 posted on 05/01/2007 12:20:05 AM PDT by iowamark (What if the Right said Fred?)
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To: Harrius Magnus
I saw that video on tv. What made this thing even more repugnant was that there were patrons around who did nothing to help this woman. (Some guy standing at the corner of the bar making a call on a cell phone.)

I don't care how big this guy is, you do not let anyone beat on a woman.

I was sickened and angered at this lack of concern.

These are not men, but cowards!

14 posted on 05/01/2007 3:50:02 AM PDT by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier)
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To: Omega Man II
A Chicago bartender believed to have been beaten by an off-duty police officer in an attack caught on video sued the officer and the city Monday.

Believe to? BS...it happened, right on camera.

15 posted on 05/02/2007 8:48:29 AM PDT by Half Vast Conspiracy (Nappy is the new N-word.)
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