Cook County Judge Acquits 3 Chicago Police Officers in Beating Case

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

A Cook County judge acquitted three Chicago police officers this afternoon in the notorious 2006 Jefferson Tap & Grille bar brawl.

Judge Thomas Gainer Jr. cleared officers Paul Powers, 27, and Gregory Barnes, 41, and Sgt. Jeffery Planey, 35, of aggravated battery charges.

Announcing the verdict, Gainer said he repeatedly reviewed video and audiotapes from the fateful night.

“After doing all of that, I have come to the conclusion that the state has failed to meet its burden of proof on any of the charges,” the judge said. “I find Planey, Powers and Barnes not guilty.”

You'll want to read the whole article.No word yet from Judge Gainer's political boss Alderman Burke on this one.Here's the judge's decision.