Today through Wednesday, we're counting down the top 9 stories of 2009 according to the Chicagoist staff. more ›

The Chicago Police Board has spoken and they've spoken unanimously: Anthony Abbate is to be discharged from the Chicago Police Department. The "independent civilian body of nine Chicagoans" reviewed the case against Abbate, who was found guilty of aggravated battery this summer in the February 2007 beating of Karolina Obrycka at Jesse's Short Stop Inn, a beating that was caught by the bar's surveillance camera and then seen around the world. more ›

Yesterday, Chicago Police officer Anthony Abbate was sentenced to two years of probation, a forced curfew, anger management classes, alcohol evaluation and 130 hours of community service for the February 2007 beating of bartender Karolina Obrycka which was caught on tape and broadcast around the world. more ›

We're still waiting for more details, but according to a Sun-Times tweet Abbate has been sentenced to two years probation for the taped beating of bartender Karolina Obrycka. He was found guilty on a charge of aggravated battery three weeks ago. more ›

In case you somehow missed it yesterday, now-suspended Chicago Police officer Anthony Abbate was found guilty of aggravated assault in the brutal February 2007 attack on bartender Karolina Obrycka. Abbate originally faced 15 charges but he was acquitted on two and the rest were dropped before the end of the trial. Judge John J. Fleming dismissed Abbate's claim of self-defense, saying the 115-pound Obrycka's attempts to push 250-pound Abbate out from behind the bar "did not justify [Abbate's] actions afterward, which were completely out of proportion." Abbate is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23 when he could face up to five years in prison for the attack. [Chicago Breaking News, WBBM] more ›

Before we continue with the post, we invite you to first re-watch the surveillance tape video that's been repeatedly shown across the country over the last 2+ years. more ›

The case of a Chicago Police officer who was caught on tape beating a Chicago bartender finally gets underway today. 12-year CPD vet Anthony Abbate stands accused in the February 2007 beating of Karolina Obrycka at Jesse's Short Stop Inn, a beating that was caught by the bar's surveillance camera. Abbate allegedly attacked Obrycka after she refused to continue serving him drinks. If this is the first you've heard of the case in a while, it's because the presiding judge, Circuit Judge John J. Fleming, issued a gag order in the case last May. Abbate faces 15 felony counts of aggravated battery in a public place, communication with a witness, intimidation, conspiracy and official misconduct which could add up to five years in jail if convicted more ›

It's been a rough day for two Chicago Police officers who side-stepped the law. First up is Anthony Abbate who was caught on tape beating bartender Karolina Obrycka at Jesse's Shortstop Inn last February. Plea negotiations fell apart and Abbate will go on trial November 19 for a variety pack of felonies including aggravated battery in a public place, official misconduct, intimidation and communicating with a witness. The wait until November is to let the hoopla surrounding the beating to die down. Good luck with that. more ›