PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Latest on the indictment of a Pittsburgh police sergeant (all times local):
7:30 p.m.
A fired Pittsburgh police sergeant accused of wrongly pushing and punching a drunken man at Heinz Field and then lying about it says he’s fighting the criminal case against him.
Ex-sergeant Stephen Matakovich (mah-TAK’-oh-vich) has been indicted by a federal grand jury. He’s appealing his firing.
Defense attorney Blaine Jones said Wednesday they’re prepared to fight the case wherever they need to fight it.
The police chief and the public safety director agreed to fire the 22-year veteran for using what was deemed to be “unreasonable” force during the arrest in November.
The district attorney has refiled charges that Matakovich used excessive force while arresting the man at the WPIAL high school football championships. Those charges are likely to be withdrawn now that Matakovich faces federal civil rights charges.
The FBI reviewed the case because security footage doesn’t appear to support Matakovich’s claim the drunken man was aggressive.
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11:20 a.m.
A federal grand jury has indicted a fired Pittsburgh police sergeant accused of wrongly pushing and punching a drunken man and then lying on two reports to justify that.
Forty-seven-year-old Stephen Matakovich (mah-TAK’-oh-vitch) is appealing his firing and his defense attorney didn’t immediately comment.
The police chief and public safety director agreed to fire the 22-year veteran for allegedly using “unreasonable” force during the arrest at Heinz Field in November.
The district attorney has refiled charges that Matakovich wrongly used excessive force while arresting the man at the WPIAL high school football championships, but those charges are likely to be withdrawn now that Matakovich faces federal civil rights charges.
The FBI reviewed the case because security footage does not appear to support Matakovich’s claim that the suspect was aggressive.
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