Teen In Viral Cop Beating Video Faces Felony Robbery Charges

OAK LAWN, IL — The teen at the center of a citizen's video that garnered national media attention showing three Oak Lawn police officers repeatedly punching him after he allegedly fled a traffic stop, is facing felony charges for the robbery of a LifeTime Fitness member in Orland Park.

The teen, Hadi Abuatelah (spelled “Abu-Atelah” in court documents), now 19, was found to be lying on top of a gun that was inside a bag during the July 2022 arrest, and pleaded guilty in juvenile court to unlawful use of a weapon, according to court testimony.

Orland Park police allege that Abuatelah was with two other young men, Sami Hirmiz, 19, and 18-year-old Nooh Masoud, on the evening of Dec. 10, 2023, when Orland Park police responded to a robbery call at LifeTime Fitness, 16333 S. LaGrange Road. There, officers learned there were three people who took part in kicking and punching a 19-year-old man in the common area of the fitness club, police said.

Abuatelah, Hirmiz and Masoud — who remains at large — were captured on video following the 19-year-old fitness club member into the locker room where police said the trio repeatedly punched and kicked the 19-year-old in the face and body, according to prosecutors during a detention hearing earlier this month. While the fitness club member was on the ground, Hirmiz allegedly removed his cell phone from his pocket. The three left the building two minutes later.

During their investigation, Orland Park detectives learned that Hirmiz, Abuatelah and Masoud had a previous verbal altercation with the 19-year-old man in a common area of the fitness center.

Orland Park police went to the Bridgeview Courthouse on Jan. 4, where Hirmiz was scheduled to appear for an unrelated case. When attempting to take Hirmiz into custody, police said he tried to flee but was tackled and placed under arrest.

Later that same day, Abuatelah was taken into custody on suspicion of robbery at his Bridgeview residence. Orland Park police said Masoud could not be located and has refused to turn himself in. A warrant for Masoud’s arrest was issued Tuesday afternoon.

The Cook County State’s Attorney office approved felony charges of robbery (Class 2) for both Hirmiz and Abuatelah. Hirmiz was also charged with two counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest.

A warrant for Masoud’s arrest was issued Tuesday afternoon on felony charges of robbery, mob action and aggravated battery.

Abuatelah and Hirmiz both appeared Jan. 4 before Cook County Judge Linzie Jones in Bridgeview for a detention hearing.

Hirmiz’s privately hired attorney, Dennis Doherty, disputed claims that any robbery occurred, CWB Chicago reported. According to Doherty, there was no evidence presented that his client took the phone. The attorney said that the 19-year-old’s phone fell on the floor and was not plucked out of his pocket.

“So I believe it’s a fight,” Doherty said. “It’s not a robbery. It’s a fight between young men that know each other.”

Hirmiz, of Oak Lawn, has two pending cases out of Chicago Ridge. In May 2023, after Chicago Ridge police detained Hirmiz at a gas station after recognizing his red Infiniti Q50, who police say had previously fled traffic stops. As officers tried to detain Hirmiz, he jumped into his vehicle, hitting a Chicago Ridge police officer with an open car door. Hirmiz is then said to have led Illinois State Police on a 100-mph chase into Indiana, that included a police helicopter.

In November, Hirmiz was arrested on a DUI charge when Chicago Ridge police said his vehicle crashed into Hookah Hype.

The prosecutor told the judge that Abuatelah is currently on juvenile probation for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, apparently stemming from the incident that went viral in Oak Lawn, CWB Chicago reported. In a separate juvenile case, Abuatelah received a finding of guilty for fleeing and eluding, the prosecutor said.

Abuatelah’s private attorney maintained that Abuatelah left the locker room before the assault took place.

Hirmiz was held at Cook County Jail for violating his pretrial release. He has since been released on electronic monitoring.

Abuatelah was also placed on a GPS monitoring device. Judge Jones told him to stay out of trouble, according to CWB Chicago.

Oak Lawn police officer Patrick O’Donnell, who is currently on paid administrative leave, was criminally charged last year with aggravated battery and official misconduct in connection to the arrest of then-17-year-old Abuatelah. The teen’s family has also filed a federal civil lawsuit against O’Donnell, two other Oak Lawn police officers that also part in the teen's arrest but have not been criminally charged, and OLPD Chief Dan Vittorio.