Chicago officers allegedly beat 4 men

A group of off-duty Chicago police officers instigated a bar fight with four businessmen that was partially caught on videotape, according to witness statements filed in court.

The filings, from written statements and police interviews with six employees of the Jefferson Tap and Grille, claim the officers started the fight for "no apparent reason."

The employees said one of the off-duty officers approached a pool table where the men were playing, pushed aside the balls and said, "Game over," according to statements to the police department's Office of Professional Standards. When the businessmen protested, the officers started to beat them, according to the filings.

The employees said that they tried to get on-duty police to help but that the off-duty officers waved them off.

Three of the officers were charged in the Dec. 15 fight. Sgt. Jeffrey Planey pleaded not guilty in July to obstruction of justice, aggravated battery and official misconduct. Officers Paul Powers and Gregory Barnes each pleaded not guilty to aggravated battery.

At the time the officers were charged, Planey's attorney, Tom Needham, said there was evidence that the businessmen were "drunk, belligerent and instigated this incident."

Messages left by The Associated Press early Wednesday for the officers' attorneys were not returned.

Sally Saltzberg, an attorney for the businessmen, said the court documents show the four men did not start the fight.

"This confirms what my clients have said all along, that this was an unprovoked attack," she said.

In May, the businessmen _ Adam Mastrucci, Scott Lowrance and brothers Aaron and Barry Gilfand _ filed a federal lawsuit claiming the officers attacked them. They said they suffered broken bones and bruises.

The videotape from a bar security cameras without sound has not been released by police, but it was obtained in July by WFLD-TV. It appears to show three off-duty Chicago police officers in a dispute with the four businessmen. The cameras did not tape the alleged assault.

The Chicago Police Department has struggled with a series of embarrassing abuse allegations.

The most high-profile involved another bar surveillance tape. A 12-year veteran of the force was charged with beating a female bartender after she reportedly refused to continue serving him drinks. Allegations also surfaced that someone tried to bribe and then threatened the bartender to keep her from pressing charges.

Hoping to restore public confidence, Mayor Richard M. Daley in July took direct command of the Office of Professional Standards, which investigates police misconduct complaints.