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National Ledger - Apache Junct
21 March 2007

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Chicago Police Department, IL

Video: Chicago Police Officer

On February 19th a police officer named Anthony Abbate strolled into Jesse's Short Stop Inn in Chicago and asked for a drink. The officer was off duty at the time, however, he was so drunk that the bartender refused to serve him and that's when things started to get ugly. Before the video came out, this vicious assault was classified as a "misdemeanor" by Chicago PD. Now, it's been upgraded to felony aggravated battery and the police are investigating possible threats and intimidation.

Terry Ekl, a lawyer involved in the case says: "This video tape vividly shows absolutely horrid behavior by someone who walks around the streets of Chicago with a gun and a badge. At one point in my career I wouldn't have believed that a police officer would do something like this. Today, I believe it."

It's worth noting at this point that the officer is 6 feet tall and weighs about 250 pounds. The bartender? Well, she's 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 115 pounds.

The incident starts off with the young female bartender refusing to serve the officer any alcohol because she says that he was too drunk. The officer then goes around to the back of the bar, probably in an effort to get a drink. The videotape clearly shows the bartender trying to stop him, pointing to where he came from and then pushing him back around to the customer's side of the bar.

At this point, the video shows the officer going around to the back of the bar for a second time, and he grabs the bartender and slams her up against the back wall of the bar. He then proceeds to toss her like a rag doll to the ground, smashing her up against the side of a u-shaped section of the bar. He then holds her down and starts punching and kicking her " unmercifully".

Eventually, some bar patrons intervene and the officer and the bartender both walk away in different directions. The bartender suffered injuries to her head, neck, back, lower body. It was reported that she had bruises and contusions over most of her body.

Cook County States Attorney office charged officer Anthony 'Tony' Abbate with felony aggravated battery and he was arrested by internal affairs at his northwest side home. Police initially filed misdemeanor battery charges and released the officer on an I-bond (an I-bond allows a person charged with a minor crime to be released without posting any money). The 20th District tactical officer has been stripped of police powers and the police department is looking into firing him.

Craig Wall of Fox News Chicago is reporting that "the investigation is now looking into threats and intimidation after the bar fight by someone connected to this incident".

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Article sourced from

National Ledger - Apache Junct21 March 2007

Video: Chicago Police Officer

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National Ledger - Apache Junct
21 March 2007