Oak Lawn officer indicted after video shows him, other cops punching teen during traffic stop last year
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An Oak Lawn police officer has now been indicted for his role in an arrest that turned violent.
As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reported, a 17-year-old was beaten after he ran from police last July. A source in the Cook County judicial system with direct knowledge of the indictment confirmed Wednesday that Officer Patrick O'Donnell is charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on the other officers involved to also be charged.
Attorney Zaid Abdallah said he is extremely happy a grand jury indicted O'Donnell in the beating of then 17-year-old Hadi Abuatelah.
Abdallah would not say how he learned about the indictment. His client's beating, captured on video, also involved two other officers.
"I just really hope that this is not hot air," Abdallah said. "I really hope it does go ahead and end in a conviction, to go ahead and send a message out that this was not right."
Abuatelah was at the news conference held Wednesday at the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. His mother and father were at his side.
On the advice of their attorney, none of them spoke to the media about the indictment involving Officer O'Donnell.
"I see his conduct is more egregious, but I don't think the other officers are absolved of any wrongdoing either," said Abdallah, "especially Officer Collins - I mean, you see, he was the one that was beating Hadi about his body, and Hadi ended up with a broken pelvis."
On July 27 of last year, Abuatelah was a passenger in a car that was pulled over by Oak Lawn police. Police said he tried to run after the traffic stop.
"In this situation, you had three big adult males piling up on a frail minor, beating his head in, smashing it to the concrete, causing severe injuries - in an arrest situation," said CAIR executive director Ahmed Rehab.
Oak Lawn police also said Abuatelah reached for a gun after he was pinned to the ground. He was charged as a juvenile with one count of felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, and possession of cannabis.
"Let's assume for a moment that this person had to be arrested legally. This is not the way to do it," Rehab said, "and in no civilization, no time, and no place on earth is this kind of behavior acceptable."
Bishop Tavis Grant, acting National Executive Director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, was also at the news conference Wednesday. Grant is calling for an investigation of the Oak Lawn Police Department to look at any patterns that may emerge with arrests and practices.
