Apr 12, 2007 6:34 pm US/Central
New Video In Off-Duty Cop Bar Beating Case
Bartender's Laywer Says Footage Shows Cop's Friends Offering Client Bribes To Stay Quiet
by Rafael Romo
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Surveillance footage shows Anthony Abbate beating bartender Karolina Obrycka.
Jesse's Shortstop Inn Tavern
New video has surfaced in the bar beating involving a former Chicago police officer. The victim's attorney says it shows friends of suspect Anthony Abbate offering bribes to the bartender Abbate attacked.
As CBS 2's Rafael Romo reports, attorney Terry Ekl says what happened after police officer Tony Abbate beat up a bartender half his size in February is almost as disgusting as this video that made headlines around the world.
"Any crimes he committed in connection with this beating I want to see him prosecuted for," said Ekl, attorney for bartender Karolina Obrycka.
Ekl claims this new portion of the video shows a man and a woman, who happen to be very close friends of Abbate, coming to the bar to speak with Obrycka after Abbate attacked her and she kept working.
"At that point Gary offers Karolina money for her medical bills and any lost wages or out-of-pocket expenses if she agreed not to prosecute his buddy Tony Abbate," Ekl said.
Sources say the man in the video is a Department of Streets and Sanitation employee who may be cooperating with prosecutors in exchange for immunity.
The woman, only identified as Patty, is a life-long friend of Abbate.
The video also shows both of them speaking on their cell phones several times.
"I firmly suspect that those conversations were with Tony Abbate," Ekl said.
In an interview with CBS 2 last month, Obrycka says she couldn't believe what was happening only moments after she was beaten up by Abbate.
"They asked me if he, possibly, if he paid the bills and then came over and apologized, I wouldn't press the charges," Obrycka said. She says she immediately said "no" to them.
So far Abbate only faces one felony charge of aggravated battery for beating up the bartender.
This new portion of the video opens up the possibility to other charges including attempting to bribe a witness, intimidation and official misconduct.
Both the State's Attorney's office and the police department refused on Thursday to comment on this part of the investigation.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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