A Chicago Police officer has been relieved of his duties after allegedly severely beating two patrons at a north suburban lounge early Saturday morning.
The off-duty officer, Gerald Callahan, 42, was charged with two counts of battery after fleeing the scene of the alleged attack at Chambers Seafood Grill & Chop, at 6881 N. Milwaukee. in Niles.
Callahan has a history of alleged erratic behavior -- keeping his job only after the Police Board rejected former Police Supt. Phil Cline's move to dismiss him in 2006 for threatening his fellow officers.
Niles police were called to the restaurant at about 1:50 a.m. Callahan had fled, police there said. But he was arrested a few blocks away at 2:30 a.m. Sources told WLS-Channel 7 he was found by Niles police passed out in bushes.
Niles police said Saturday night that Callahan had attacked a 61-year-old Morton Grove man and a 50-year-old Niles woman.
"According to ... witnesses, Callahan attacked the two victims for no apparent reason," Niles police Sgt. Tom Davis said.
The man suffered lacerations and bruises to his head and face, while the woman suffered lacerations on her arm and lip, Niles police said.
The incident raises the specter of several incidents in the last year in which Chicago Police officers have been accused in alleged bar brawls or of beating people -- including the infamous February 2007 videotaped beating of a female bartender by a brawny officer.
Police Supt. Jody Weis had looked forward to closure on the bar beating saga, which he called "a very, very sad chapter" for the department.
After Callahan was arrested, the suburban department learned he was a Chicago Police officer.
"The Chicago Police Department was notified," Davis said.
Chicago Police officials said late Saturday night that Callahan was relieved of his police powers and the incident is under investigation.
In 2006, Cline had sought Callahan's dismissal for a 2004 incident in which he allegedly threatened several other officers, allegedly saying he would dump them in a garbage can, and swearing he would rip one officer's "f---ing head off."
Released on bond after the Niles incident, Callahan is due in court at 9 a.m. on June 17.
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