CHICAGO (AP) - A judge has acquitted a Porter man accused of throwing empty bottles at Chicago police while demonstrating during last year’s NATO summit.

Cook County Circuit Judge Kevin Sheehan on Tuesday acquitted Alex Cerajewski, 21, of mob action. Cerajewski smiled and thanked the judge after the ruling.

Sheehan pointed out before his ruling the prosecution’s lone witness, a police sergeant, testified he saw Cerajewski hurl the bottles outside the Art Institute, where first lady Michelle Obama was dining on May 20, 2012. However, the sergeant said the man who threw the bottle was wearing a head garb that left only his eyes exposed.

According to testimony, the bottles weren’t recovered.

Defense attorney Robert Strunck noted police reports indicated Cerajewski threw glass bottles. Police claimed they were Gatorade bottles, which are plastic.

Posted 3/20/2013