Oak Lawn cop pleads not guilty to battery, misconduct charges in teen's arrest

OAK LAWN, Ill. - Oak Lawn Police Officer Patrick O’Donnell pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony charges in connection with the violent arrest of teenager in the southwest suburb last summer.

Just hours after O’Donnell made his first court appearance at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, Oak Lawn’s Fire and Police Commission meeting came to an abrupt end.

This, as community activists call for more officers to be held accountable in the beating of Hadi Abuatelah last July.

"We want to see a conviction of all three, and we want them removed from the city of Oak Lawn to keep our community safe," said Muhammad Sankari, lead organizer, Arab American Action Network (AAAN).

More than three dozen officers – most of them wearing Oak Lawn police uniforms – packed into a small second-floor courtroom and spilled out into the hallway Wednesday morning in a show of support for O’Donnell.

O’Donnell was captured on video punching 17-year-old Hadi Abuatuleh more than 10 times in the head with a closed fist on July 27, 2022 — at times while holding the teenager by the head and by his hair — while another officer knelt on Abuatelah’s legs as they both shouted commands at him, Cook County prosecutors said.

Police said the teen initially fled after a traffic stop, and that he was reaching for his bag, where officers later discovered a loaded handgun.

Oak Lawn Police Chief Daniel Vittorio has defended his officers’ actions, saying those actions were in line with their training.

"If officers are trained that while two other adults are restraining a child, and you repeatedly punch them in the face, what is wrong with policing in this state, that’s not acceptable," said Sankari.

Abuatelah spent six days in a hospital for fractures to his face, skull and pelvis, as well as swelling of his brain. Attorneys for Abuatelah and his family have sued the village in federal court alleging the teenager’s civil rights were abused.

O’Donnell was indicted by a grand jury last month on counts of aggravated battery and official misconduct.

Video of the beating, captured by a bystander, led to protests by members of the Arab American community, who alleged profiling and harassment by the suburb’s officers.

AAAN hosted a rally Wednesday night evening for the firing of O’Donnell and the two other officers seen in the viral video.

The group then filed into the Oak Lawn FPC meeting, where supporters of the teen and of the Oak Lawn Police Department converged.

"When we point the finger at police, we’re encouraging this type of behavior and it’s going to lead to people getting shot and killed, both officers and civilians," one resident said.

Protesters got fired up after two residents asked to use their remaining time during public comment to show dashcam video of various police-civilian encounters.

Soon, chaos erupted in the meeting room – leading board members to adjourn the meeting just 12 minutes after it began.

The state’s attorney’s office charged the teen with illegally possessing a gun days after the incident, and the case is still pending in juvenile court.

O’Donnell’s attorney James McKay claimed Abuatelah had been "trying to get that gun" and said his client and the other officers were lucky to have escaped the arrest with their lives. He called the charges against O’Donnell "outrageous."

"This is just another example of Kim Foxx criminalizing lawful arrests," McKay told Judge Domenica Stephenson during the hearing.

The 33-year-old officer was hired by the department in 2014, is a lifelong resident of the county, and the father of two young children, McKay added.

He asked the judge not to side with prosecutor’s request that O’Donnell be ordered to surrender his FOID card and any weapons in his possession, saying it would threaten the officer’s ability to work and provide for his family.

Stephenson ordered O’Donnell released on his own recognizance and did not have him surrender his FOID or any weapons while the case continues.

O’Donnell is expected back in court on April 4.

Sankari called McKay’s suggestion that Abuatelah posed a threat to the officers "beyond ridiculous."

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"The reality is there is only one person in that courtroom who almost killed someone," Sankari said. "There is a police officer that almost killed a child."

Noting the number of officers in attendance, Sankari questioned who was patrolling the village and whether the officers were being paid with taxpayer money to travel to and attend the hearing.

A spokesperson for the Village of Oak Lawn told FOX 32 Chicago they are still waiting on requested information from the Cook County State's Attorney about O’Donnell’s indictment.

The statement from the village also said, in part:

"We also contacted the State Police to ask for a copy of their report, but they referred us back to the Cook County State’s Attorney who, again, hasn’t responded to or even acknowledged our several inquiries. We wish that we had more to share, but things are still unfortunately very unclear at this point. Our only hope is that seeking justice and applying fairness are the only motivators involved in this matter."

Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.