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Fired Pittsburgh officer charged in Heinz Field arrest to stand trial

PITTSBURGH — A fired Pittsburgh police sergeant has been ordered to stand trial on charges related to an arrest at Heinz Field during which he was caught on surveillance video assaulting a teenager.

Simple assault and official oppression charges against Stephen Matakovich were held for court on Friday. Charges of perjury, making an unsworn statement and one count of official oppression were dismissed.

In regard to the dismissed charges, the most serious of which was the felony perjury charge, Matakovich’s attorney, Blaine Jones, said, “There was no evidence to support that, nor was there any evidence that was brought forth by the commonwealth. The new count of official oppression was baseless, and as a result those charges were dismissed, rightfully so.”

The charges had been refiled by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office two months ago after all of Matakovich’s previous charges in the case were tossed out.

In the surveillance video from the November arrest during the WPIAL football championship games, Matakovich, 47, can be seen punching the teenager.

Sources previously told Target 11 that Matakovich was off-duty but was working a security detail at Heinz Field on Nov. 28 when he encountered an intoxicated fan, Gabriel Despres, and arrested him.

During Friday’s hearing, the victim, who was charged with underage drinking and trespassing, testified that he didn’t recall much about the incident. He said he suffered a swollen nose and bruises.

Two Heinz Field security guards testified that the teenager appeared to be intoxicated, but did not appear threatening or violent. He did, however, refuse repeated requests to leave.

According to the guards, Matakovich became agitated, at one point telling the teenager that if he didn’t leave he would kick him so hard that he would taste his shoelaces.

A Pittsburgh police use-of-force expert’s testimony countered Matakovich’s claims that the teenager took an aggressive stance.

“I see no level of resistance, no sign of aggression. In my opinion, the use of force was not reasonable,” Dave Wright said.

Jones defended his client by saying, “If Officer Matakovich, using the reasonable officer standard, deemed this person as a potential threat, then Officer Matakovich has the lawful right to use force.”

Matakovich also faces an indictment by a federal grand jury on charges of deprivation of civil rights and falsification of a record.

According to the April indictment, Matakovich willfully deprived Despres by punching, pushing and repeatedly striking him without justification.

The police chief and the public safety director agreed to fire Matakovich, a 22-year veteran, in February. He is appealing his termination.