Advertisement Federal grand jury indicts former Pittsburgh police sergeant who was fired after violent arrest Surveillance video showed Sgt. Stephen Matakovich hitting Gabriel Despres, who was arrested at Heinz Field in November Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A federal grand jury has indicted a fired Pittsburgh police sergeant accused of wrongly pushing and punching a drunken man at Heinz Field and then lying on reports to justify his use of force. (Mobile users: Scroll down to read the U.S. attorney's statement.)Stephen Matakovich, 47, of Brookline, was charged with perjury, official oppression and simple assault after surveillance video showed him striking Gabriel Despres, then 19.VIDEO: Watch Sheldon Ingram's report"Every indication is what the sergeant did that day was wrong", says Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.He says the grand jury indictment sends a powerful message "to build that faith back with the community, We have to make sure we have discipline, but it has to be consistent and fair".VIDEO: Watch Sheldon Ingram's reportCharges against Matakovich were dismissed by a district judge at a preliminary hearing Feb. 1. District Attorney Stephen Zappala's office later refiled the charges.The FBI reviewed the case, because Pittsburgh police said the security video did not appear to support Matakovich's claim that Despres was aggressive during his Nov. 28 arrest at the WPIAL football championships."Sgt. Matakovich recently testified at a preliminary hearing before District Judge Robert Ravenstahl. At the conclusion of that hearing, the charges were dismissed. The FOP believes strongly that when all the facts and circumstances are fully explained, Sgt. Matakovich's actions will be found reasonable based upon the totality of the circumstances known to him at the time he used force in the course of an arrest," police union President Robert Swartzwelder said in a statement Wednesday.Bryan Campbell, a police union attorney seeking to have the ex-officer reinstated, said that a state law requires officers charged with felonies to be suspended from "law enforcement duties" but that the language has been interpreted to mean officers in such cases can't work patrol duties.He said Matakovich could work in the police warrant office or evidence room."Plus, he's a sergeant, so there's a lot of administrative jobs for sergeants where they're not out there answering calls and stuff," Campbell said.Despres still faces a preliminary hearing in May on charges including defiant trespass and public drunkenness. He didn't return a telephone call seeking comment and doesn't have an attorney listed in court papers.___Statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh:A Pittsburgh resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of deprivation of civil rights and falsification of a record, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.The two-count indictment, returned on April 5, named Stephen Matakovich, 47, of Pittsburgh, Pa., as the sole defendant.According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 28, 2015, Matakovich, a police officer of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, willfully deprived an individual identified as G.D. by punching G.D., pushing G.D., and repeatedly striking G.D., without justification, thereby causing bodily injury to G.D. The indictment further alleges that on or about Nov. 29, 2015, Matakovich made false statements in the record related to the incident, falsely justifying the force used against G.D.The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.Assistant United States Attorneys Cindy K. Chung and Stephen S. Gilson are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.___Statement from Mayor Bill Peduto:This is a sad day for our city and police bureau, but a good one for our justice system.Despite video showing Sgt. Matakovich unlawfully beating a suspect, the initial charges against him were wrongfully dismissed. Yet the city still proceeded to fire the sergeant, the charges against him were refiled by the district attorney, and now he has been indicted by a federal grand jury. The justice system is working, and should set an example for all judges on how seriously city, county and federal officials take such matters on behalf of the communities they all serve.But let me be clear that the sergeant's conduct, and this indictment, do not represent the hundreds of Pittsburgh police who protect city residents honorably and courageously every day and night. If anything the charges provide a moment to thank the officers who live up to the Pittsburgh Police Bureau's core values of accountability, integrity and respect in all they do. Our administration will continue to work to build a police bureau we can all be proud of -- one based upon fair and consistent discipline, as needed.Get the WTAE Pittsburgh's Action News 4 App