Berwyn Police Apologize, Release Buona Beef Mugshots, Arrest Reports

BERWYN, IL — The City of Berwyn reversed course Thursday and released booking photographs and arrest reports of Buona Beef partners James and Joseph Buonavolanto following their Aug. 14 arrest on battery charges following a video-recorded confrontation with protesting union members outside their Berwyn flagship restaurant.

"I do not want anything released until after their court cases are over," wrote Berwyn Police Chief Michael Cimaglia Monday in an email to the Berwyn Police Department's records supervisor.

On Tuesday, the city sent Patch a notice that it had rejected a public records request for booking photos of the uncle and nephew, second and third-generation heirs, respectively, to the chain of the suburban Italian beef restaurants.

On Thursday, following a report pointing out the city's apparent violation of state law, Patch received the requested documents and an apology for the delay from Cimaglia.

» Berwyn Refuses To Release Booking Photos Of Arrested Buona Beef Bosses

"There seems to have been no clear and convincing evidence supporting the Berwyn Police Department’s determination that releasing the intake pictures requested would disrupt the ongoing investigation," wrote Berwyn City Clerk Margaret Paul in a message accompanying the release of the documents.

Police reports show cops were first called to the 6745 W. Roosevelt Rd. Buona Beef in reference to an inflatable rat. The union protesters, who were sitting on the east side of the 1200 block of Oak Park Avenue, had erected a sign saying "Shame on Buona Beef for using Rat Contractors." They agreed to take down the rat in order to avoid obstructing the sidewalk, and the situation was apparently resolved amicably. During that incident, another member of the Buonavolanto family, who faces no charges, dealt with the protesters, according to the reports.

After police left, one of the protesters told police that around 10:20 a.m. a man he recognized as Joseph Buonavolanto got into a newer model BMW, drove onto the sidewalk about six inches from the demonstrator and "laid on his vehicle horn 3-4 times for extended periods of time." He then allegedly turned the car around and told the members of the Local 150 union, "In about an hour your guys ass is [sic] toast," according to the police report.

Police returned around 11:49 a.m., when they were told of the video-recorded incident during which James Buonavolanto appears to knock over the protesters' sign, take their fliers and throw them in the trash before spraying the two union members with a garden hose. The protesters told police Joseph slapped the hand of a protester as he was recording video of the incident, which was also shown in the online video.

The reports confirm that both Buonavolantos were charged with battery and exercised their Fifth Amendment rights through a lawyer and were not interviewed by police.

The reports also show that both Buonavolantos were advised by police that "any further unlawful interaction with the [protestors], if they were out protesting again [the next day], could lead to additional charges."

» Read more: Buona Beef Bosses Arrested, Charged With Battery

_{Top photo: Joseph (left) and James Buonavolanto booking photographs | City of Berwyn}