Wow! The judge has apparently entered a directed finding for the defendant, Chicago Police Officer Anthony Abbate, on the charge of official misconduct. That means he did not believe the state had met its burden on those counts.
Judge John Fleming acquitted Anthony Abbate of two counts of official misconduct, saying that bartender Karolina Obrycka testified Abbate never announced that he was a police officer."There's been no indication from any evidence up to this point that he in any way abused his office under the statute,'' said Fleming. "A violation of a police department rule or regulation does not itself make it felony misconduct.''
Abbate's lawyer Peter Hickey argued that the bartender never knew he was an officer because Abbate never announced he was a police officer or flashed his badge. Hickey said as a result Abbate did not misuse his authority.
The trial continues on the major charge of aggravated battery right now.
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