The attack was recorded by a bar surveillance camera. It shows Abbate coming behind the bar and beating Obrycka, who is half his size. Jurors have already seen the video, which made national headlines.
On Monday, Obrycka, 30, told the jury that she when she refused to serve Abbate, he came around the bar, grabbed her by the neck, and threw her to the floor. She said the then off-duty police officer told her that no one tells him what to do.
Abbate was found guilty in the criminal lawsuit. In the civil lawsuit, Obrycka is accusing the city of Chicago and Chicago Police Department of trying to cover up the beating because Abbate was an officer.
Obrycka told jurors that she called 911 after the attack, and told the responding officers that Abbate was also on the force. She said she also pointed out the surveillance cameras and told them that management was on the way. She said the officers left without waiting for the bar's manager to arrive.
The video was never mentioned in the police report, and neither was Abbate's name or the fact he was an officer.
Obrycka also testified that Abbate's friends attempted to bribe her so she wouldn't press charges.
Obrycka will return to the stand on Tuesday.
