Police officer faces new charges in bartender beating

[Judi Lynn]

Source: CNN/AP

Police officer faces new charges in bartender beating
POSTED: 1:54 p.m. EDT, April 27, 2007

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Prosecutors announced 14 additional felony charges Friday against a Chicago police officer whose videotaped beating of a female bartender made international headlines.

Anthony Abbate, a 12-year department veteran, was charged with seven counts of official misconduct, one count of communicating with a witness, three counts of intimidation and three counts of conspiracy, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said.
(snip)

Police faced intense criticism because Abbate had been charged with a misdemeanor until the videotape became public.

Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline, who also had to fend charges that his department was out of control amid reports that another videotape showed six officers beat up four businessmen, announced earlier this month that he was retiring.




Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/04/27/police.beatings.ap/index.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. For anyone who missed this atrocity the first time, here's an NBC update

from Chicago:

http://video.nbc5.com/player/?id=84236

[shenmue]

2. Put him *under* the jail, please

:grr:

:nuke:

"Charged with a misdemeanor until the videotape became public..." Ooh, why I oughta...

:grr:

:puke:

:nuke:

[KansDem]

3. I hope they throw the book at him!

I worked as a bartender for two years. I even attended a bartending school for training and job placement. One of the subjects we went over was how to dispense alcohol responsibly and safely. When we suspected someone of imbibing too much, we said "no." The reasons are clear: a drunk on the road is bad enough, but the bar owner and bartender could be held responsible, both legally and financially, if that drunk is either arrested by the police or causes an accident.

I never had a problem with "cutting people off." We might say something like, "Hey, pal. You've had enough. We appreciate your business and want you healthy so you can come back!" Usually, they would get a little irritated and leave. But I never felt like my health and welfare was in jeopardy.

This thug needs to have his wings clipped. It's bad enough for some cretin to do this, but for an officer of the law, who should know all about public intoxication, drunk driving, and the responsibility of bartenders to know when to say "no," it is unconscionable.

[LiberalVoice]

4. He beat the shit out of her.

I'm no lawyer but those charges didn't sound like enough to me.

[Hekate]

5. That was quite the video as played on the news.He slugged her till she went down, then kicked her...

...some dirty ones for good measure.

Oooh, big brave man :sarcasm:

I hope he does jail time.

Hekate

[AX10]

6. Now it would have been right to shoot him self defense.

He could have killed her.