Woman charged with spitting on off-duty CPD officer during City Hall protest

A 20-year-old woman was charged with spitting on an off-duty Chicago Police officer outside a City Council meeting last month where demonstrators rallying against the construction of a new police training academy clashed with members of the Fraternal Order of Police who were staging their own protest.

On May 23, Penny Hawthorne walked up to the officer and started yelling “vulgarities” at him, according to Chicago Police. She continued the tirade while walking alongside him and then spat on his left cheek.

The officer was among a group of FOP members who were protesting against Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the negotiation of a consent decree that could give a federal judge power to enforce reforms recommended by the former President Barack Obama’s Department of Justice.

Hawthorne, of Oak Park, turned herself over to Area Central detectives Saturday after learning a warrant had been issued for her arrest, police said. She was charged with a misdemeanor count of battery making physical contact.

She was released on bond hours later, police said. Her next court date was set for July 2.

Hawthorne is the daughter of a Chicago Tribune reporter, according to the Tribune.