Charges against Oak Lawn police Officer Patrick O’Donnell, accused of using excessive force during the 2022 arrest of 17-year-old Hadi Abu-Atelah, have been dropped. The dismissal came during a Wednesday morning hearing, a day before O’Donnell’s bench trial was scheduled to begin.
State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke stated that the decision followed a review of evidence, concluding that a conviction was unlikely. Her statement emphasized the prosecutor’s duty to evaluate evidence at every stage and pursue justice accordingly. She also noted ongoing communication with Abu-Atelah, his family, and their attorney throughout the process. This marks the first high-profile police misconduct case concluded under O’Neill Burke’s tenure. She previously rejected an endorsement from the Chicago police union, citing the potential conflict of interest between the police department and the prosecutor’s office.
The Arab American Action Network strongly criticized the dismissal, calling it a “grave injustice” and accusing O’Neill Burke of reverting to “old-style Chicago politics of back-room dealings and cover-ups.” The case had already drawn condemnation from some Arab Americans who viewed it as evidence of police bias and overpolicing in the community. A civil rights lawsuit filed by Abu-Atelah’s family and the Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago against the Oak Lawn officers and the village is still pending in federal court.
O’Donnell was indicted last year on charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct under the previous state’s attorney, Kim Foxx. Bystander video showed O’Donnell repeatedly punching Abu-Atelah while he was on the ground after fleeing a traffic stop. Abu-Atelah suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his face, skull, and pelvis, and brain swelling. Oak Lawn Police Chief Daniel Vittorio defended O’Donnell’s actions, citing a loaded semiautomatic pistol found in Abu-Atelah’s bag. Abu-Atelah was subsequently charged with gun possession, although the status of that juvenile case is unclear.
However, in December 2023, Abu-Atelah was charged with felony robbery in connection with an incident at a gym. O’Donnell’s lawyer had sought to introduce evidence of this and Abu-Atelah’s school disciplinary records at trial. He did not respond to requests for comment following the dismissal.