April status hearing set for cop accused of beating female bartender

The city of Chicago moved a step closer to firing a police officer accused in the videotaped beating of a female bartender on Tuesday -- the same day the officer's attorney said a plea bargain had fallen apart.

At roughly the same time Anthony Abbate was in court, the city's police review authority announced it had recommended Abbate be fired and that Police Superintendent Jody Weis agreed with the recommendation.

"Officer Abbate is sworn to uphold the law, but over a period of several hours, he continued to break the law and later misused his position and power as a sworn police officer in an attempt to cover up his misconduct," Ilana Rosenzweig, chief administrator for the Independent Police Review Authority said in a statement.

"He has brought discredit upon the Police Department and the City of Chicago," said Rosenzweig.

Later in the day, Weis issued a statement echoing Rosenzweig, and said he would take the recommendation to the Chicago Police Board.

"The actions of Anthony Abbate crossed the line and are unacceptable under any circumstances," said Weis, adding that the board's recommendation and his agreement with it illustrate the department's "commitment to root out bad cops."

In a brief court hearing, Abbate attorney Peter Hickey told judge John J. Fleming that he and prosecutors failed to reach what was a widely expected plea agreement and asked for another court date. Fleming did so, ordering Abbate to return to court April 30, a move that again raises the possibility Abbate will stand trial.

Abbate is accused of being the man seen in a bar surveillance tape beating, punching and throwing the much smaller Karolina Obrycka to the floor after she apparently refused to serve him any more drinks. The tape has been shown around the world and Abbate has been charged with 15 felony counts of aggravated battery, official misconduct, intimidation, conspiracy and communicating with a witness. He has pleaded not guilty.

The apparent collapse of a plea agreement caught the alleged victim and her attorney off guard. Both showed up to court to watch Abbate plead guilty to charges in connection with the Feb. 19, 2007, incident at a tavern where Obrycka worked.

"We came here today believing that Abbate was going to be entering a plea of guilty to multiple charges," said Terry Ekl. "So we're as surprised as you are that that didn't happen."

Obrycka would not say whether she was disappointed with the possibility she might have to testify against Abbate in trial. But more than a year after Abbate allegedly attacked her, she said she remains afraid of him.

"Him being so close, I was actually right now scared," she said.