Embattled Troy Police Officer Dominick Comitale has been suspended as a result of a September incident, when Comitale allegedly elbowed a man in the face at a Little League game while off-duty, according to Troy Police spokesman Daniel DeWolf.

It remains unclear if the suspension is paid or unpaid, and DeWolf said he couldn't comment further because the issue is a personnel matter. Comitale had previously been on disability with a shoulder injury.

Comitale was charged with second-degree harassment after the confrontation with Darren Ayotte, vice president of the Twin Town Little League in North Greenbush. Ayotte said he was arguing with a manager following a game when Comitale appeared, grabbed him by the shirt, pinned him against a car, elbowed him in the face and smashed his police badge into his forehead.

Ayotte, represented by Albany lawyer Lee Kindlon, indicated earlier this month he would sue the city of Troy over Comitale's conduct.

Kindlon, who spoke to reporters on Nov. 5, provided a recording of Comitale speaking on Sept. 8 with North Greenbush officers after they arrived at the Little League complex at 79 Williams Road in North Greenbush.

Comitale disparaged female witnesses, insulted the police chief of North Greenbush and said his Sept. 8 arrest was "bullsh_" during the profanity-laced recording.

Ayotte said after listening to the recording, it reinforced his concerns and desire to have an order of protection imposed on Comitale. He noted he suffered a split lip and torn rotator cuff in the incident.

Ayotte said the incident began when he reminded a team manager to rake the field following a game. He said the manager took exception, and they argued. During the confrontation, Ayotte said, a man he now knows to be Comitale ran over and grabbed him.

The recording showed North Greenbush police officers told Comitale they did not want to arrest him.

"Dude, I don't f__ing want to do this," one officer tells Comitale, adding that he had tried to get Ayotte to resolve the situation without pressing charges.

But the officer tells Comitale that five witnesses said they had seen him strike Ayotte.

"They're women, right?" Comitale replies with a laugh.

At another point, Comitale observes that things would have gone differently if the incident at the children's ball field had happened in the city he patrols.

"You should have went to Troy, man," Comitale says at one point to North Greenbush officers. "It's a lot easier. You don't have to deal with this f__ing sh__. You'd be slapping people around telling them to f__ off and 'Go play over there.'"

Comitale goes on to castigate North Greenbush police chief David Keevern as "a douchebag," prompting one of the officers to remind Comitale that his body recorder was on.

"I'm sure you don't care, but — ," the officer says.

"No, I don't," Comitale replies. As if addressing Keevern directly, he then adds, "Dave, you're a douche."

At one point, Comitale asks the officers: "What is it with you guys?"

Ayotte, who held the Nov. 5 press conference in Kindlon's office, said he was disturbed when he learned of the past complaints against Comitale. He said he planned to sue Troy for alleged negligence, excessive force, emotional distress and more.

"This police officer assaulted me in front of many children who were at the field that day, including my 8-year-old son," Ayotte told reporters during the press conference.

"It is shocking and deeply troubling that this officer has maintained his job with the city of Troy...The mountain of evidence of Dominick Comitale's poor judgment and lack of impulse control greatly concerns me," he said.

The city has paid more than $174,000 to settle four excessive force-related allegations involving Comitale since 2011.

In 2015, a jury found Comitale and Justin Ashe guilty of violating John M. Larkin's civil rights after they beat, tasered and pepper-sprayed him at St. Mary's Hospital in 2011. The city paid a $39,000 settlement in that case.

In 2014, an internal investigation exonerated Comitale of excessive force violations in connection with the 2013 arrest of a Hudson Valley Community College football player, but found that he had violated several provisions of the department's code of conduct. The city settled that case for $60,001.

In 2013, Comitale and officer Brandon Cipperly allegedly beat Sam Ratley outside his home for playing music too loudly. The city settled that case for $60,000.

The city also paid $15,000 to settle a 2011 allegation of excessive force against Comitale after he stopped a man for an open container violation.