Officer Convicted In Bartender Beating

An off-duty Chicago police officer seen beating up a female bartender in a video that has been viewed worldwide was convicted of the attack June 23.

Cook County Circuit Judge John Fleming sentenced Anthony Abbate to home curfew and ordered him to perform 130 hours of community service.

“If I believed sentencing Anthony Abbate to prison would stop people from getting drunk and hitting people, I’d give him the maximum sentence,” Fleming said.

The 250-pound Abbate claimed self defense against the 125-pound Karolina Obrycka, whom he claims pushed him first as she tried to remove him from behind the bar.

The incident took place because Obrycka had stopped serving the intoxicated Abbate. Police Superintendent Phil Cline resigned shortly after the video surfaced.