A white Worcester police officer is set to be charged with assault and a civil rights violation, after accusations he beat and kicked a handcuffed and shackled prisoner and made remarks about his black skin.

Michael Motyka, a 17-year veteran of the department, is accused of pushing a handcuffed and shackled 48-year-old man up against the wall, punching him, throwing him to the ground, and kicking him in December 2014. Motyka then “made a disparaging remark with respect to the complainant’s ‘black’ skin,’’ according to Worcester Police.

The victim filed a complaint to the Bureau of Professional Standards in March, and a witness corroborated the story, police said. An internal investigation found that the incident was caught on a security camera. Police have not released that video to the public.


Motyka is to be arraigned in court Friday morning on charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and a civil rights violation. He has been placed on paid administrative leave until a termination hearing is held.

“I want to thank Chief [Gary] Gemme and the Worcester Police Department for taking this matter seriously and investigating it quickly,’’ City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said in a statement. “Worcester will not tolerate this type of alleged behavior.’’