By Natasha Korecki and Frank Main
Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — A jury can hear a bartender’s claim that Chicago Police officers engaged in a “code of silence” to protect a cop who beat her in a videotaped attack seen around the world, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve denied the city’s attempt to dismiss bartender Karolina Obrycka’s 2007 lawsuit against Chicago and former police Officer Anthony Abbate. But the judge did toss out one of the counts against the city.
The Feb. 19, 2007, incident happened while Obrycka was working at Jesse’s Shortstop Inn. Abbate, who was off duty, went behind the bar and punched and kicked Obrycka after she refused to serve him. Abbate was convicted of aggravated battery and sentenced to two years’ probation.
In her ruling, St. Eve outlined evidence suggesting a code of silence among police after the incident and showing the city attempted a cover-up.
The judge noted responding officers Peter Masheimer and Jerry Knickrehm didn’t include in their initial report that Abbate was a police officer or that the incident was captured on the bar’s cameras. She said Abbate and his partner called other cops and detectives after the incident took place.
She also noted that city employee Gary Ortiz went back to the bar after the incident and “told Obrycka that Abbate had offered to pay for her medical bills and time off if she did not register a complaint or file a lawsuit against Abbate. The city concedes that Ortiz’s action was an attempted “bribe.”
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