$70,000 Bond for Officer Charged in Attack on Bartender

Bond was set Wednesday at $70,000 for a Chicago Police officer caught on a Northwest Side bar’s video surveillance camera beating and kicking a female bartender, who was allegedly offered money to not file a report about the incident.


Cook County Criminal Court Associate Judge Raymond Myles set bond for Anthony Abbate at $70,000, $30,000 less than what prosecutors asked for, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton. The judge ordered as part of Abbate’s bond conditions, he not have any contact with the 25-year-old bartender, the owners of the bar or the bar itself, and that he not possess a firearm while his case is pending.

Abbate, 38, reportedly a 12-year-police veteran, is charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, Simonton said. Myles set a preliminary hearing for March 27 in Indictment Court (Br. 98).

While at Jessie’s Shortstop Inn Tavern at 5424 W. Belmont in the Craigin neighborhood on Feb. 19, prosecutors allege Abbate, who is 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, became intoxicated and in a drunken rage attacked the bartender, who is 5-foot-4 and weighs 115. Abbate, a Lincoln District Police officer, was off duty at the time.

Abbate had become drunk and obnoxious, and insulted another customer, whom he put into a headlock and hit a few times, according to court records, which did not state how long the off-duty officer had been in the bar.

The customer moved to the opposite side of the bar when Abbate walked behind the bar in an attempt to get at him, prosecutors allege. The bartender, however, pushed Abbate out from behind the bar. He then grabbed a metal chair and walked with it behind the bar again. The bartender attempted to push him out of the area when Abbate threw down the chair and allegedly shoved her against the bar, according to court records.

Abbate proceeded to punch the bartender, who fell to the ground, and the off-duty officer kicked her, prosecutors alleged. Customers then intervened to stop Abbate from further pummeling the woman, according to prosecutors.

The bar’s video surveillance camera captured the beating on tape.

The bartender suffered contusions to her legs, arms and head, and was taken to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center for treatment.

Later on the night of the attack, someone approached the bartender saying he was there on behalf of Abbate and offered her money not to report the incident, according to court records. Simonton said the investigation was ongoing into whether charges, such as witness intimidation, should be added.

A police report was filed against the officer and an investigation was launched by the Office of Professional Standards on Feb. 21, according to a statement released Wednesday by police News Affairs.

As the investigation proceeded, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office became involved and charges of felony aggravated battery were approved on Tuesday, the statement said.

The officer was arrested for misdemeanor battery on March 14, but was arrested again on the upgraded charges Tuesday, according to police.

He has been “relived of police powers,” according to the statement, which said a “recommendation of termination is expected” pending completion of the internal investigation.