The small Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn has agreed to pay a massive $825,000 settlement to a convicted suspect, Hadi Abuatelah, who fled from police after a traffic stop, ran from officers, and was carrying a loaded firearm.
The incident took place in July 2022 when Oak Lawn police initiated a traffic stop after reportedly smelling marijuana coming from Abuatelah’s vehicle.
When Abuatelah, then 17, bolted from the car, officers chased him and subdued him after a foot pursuit, and when they caught him, they found a loaded pistol in his bag.
During the arrest, body-cam video shows officers punching the teen repeatedly, including more than ten blows to the head and face, while restraining him on the ground.
The teen was hospitalized for six days with a broken nose, skull and pelvic fractures, brain swelling, and other serious injuries.
NEW: Oak Lawn will pay $825,000 to a man who was arrested after fleeing from police while armed
Hadi Abuatelah, 21, was arrested in July 2022 after Oak Lawn police pulled over his car and smelled marijuana
Body cameras showed the 17-year-old running from officers before they… pic.twitter.com/J1EW9A3Iqv
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) November 25, 2025
All charges against police officer Patrick O’Donnell were dropped in 2024, citing, “We concluded that the evidence is insufficient to meet our burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt to move forward with the prosecution of this case.”
Yet instead of being condemned or simply convicted, Abuatelah has emerged $825,000 richer.
The Village Board of Oak Lawn voted to pay Abuatelah $825,000. According to ABC7 Chicago, this decision was “not because of the merits of the case, but because the Village’s insurance carrier was pushing for the settlement.”
The settlement arrived even though criminal charges against the officers were dismissed. Of that total, Oak Lawn itself will pay about $250,000 out of pocket, while the rest comes from insurance.
This is the same teen who faced felony charges for the robbery of a Lifetime Fitness member in Orland Park.
Patch reported:
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.
[…]
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.
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