Lawyer tells judge Chicago cop accused of pinning teen in Park Ridge was justified; prosecutors say he overreacted in anger

Accusations of lying, arrogance, greed and irrationality were flying Wednesday during closing arguments in the trial of an off-duty Chicago Police sergeant charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct for his actions toward a young teen in Park Ridge last summer.

Cook County prosecutors argued that Michael Vitellaro angrily overreacted by grabbing a then-14-year-old, using a maneuver to force him down to the pavement and pinning him there after he saw the boy handling his son’s recently-stolen bike. Defense attorney James McKay forcefully countered prosecutors’ statements, arguing Vitellaro had had probable cause both as an off-duty police officer and as a citizen to detain the teen.

Read more of Caroline Kubzansky's in the Chicago Tribune.