Investigates

Allegheny County DA directs that charges be refiled after Heinz Field arrest

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala has directed that charges be refiled against a Pittsburgh police sergeant who was cleared of using excessive force during an arrest at Heinz Field.

Sgt. Stephen Matakovich, who has been on the force for 22 years, was caught on video punching a teenager at Heinz Field in November. Charges related to the incident were dropped Monday.

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Despite being cleared, the FBI announced a review of the case.


Target 11's Rick Earle has learned that Matakovich had previous brushes with the law.

Earle reported Thursday that another video landed Matakovich in trouble when he worked at Pittsburgh's Zone 3 police department in 2013. Matakovich was caught on a dashboard camera allegedly threatening a supervisor.

In response to the 2013 incident, former police chief Nate Harper recommended suspension of Matakovich and transfer to Zone 5. But Matakovich appealed, and the Public Safety Director sent him back to Zone 3.

In 2012, a 23-year-old man claimed Matakovich and three other officers beat him up because he tried to enter a South Side bar with a beer. The city settled a lawsuit without admitting any wrongdoing.

Matakovich's latest troubles appeared to be behind him Monday when charges were dropped. However, the FBI has since announced its review of the violent arrest, and Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay said he believes excessive force was used and urged the District Attorney refile charges.

“I agree with Chief McLay that a crime has been committed,” Zappala said Thursday. “Clearly, there's probable cause that a crime had been committed.”

The Fraternal Order of Police released the following statement Thursday in response to McLay’s comments:

"While we respect the Chief's personal opinion the processes that are in place by outside agencies are out of our control. What the Chief does have control over is the continuing internal investigation, which by our working agreement cannot be commented on at this time.

"While Sgt. Matakovich's case is important to the administration and the City as an employer I find it interesting that the media and the Administration continue to focus on this as a priority rather than the increase in violent crime across the City. Just yesterday we had another homicide and four separate shootings within the same community."

Beth Pittinger, of the Citizens Police Review Board, said a decision as to whether Matakovich continues to serve as a member of law enforcement in the city of Pittsburgh is “squarely on the plate of Chief McLay.”

Cox Media Group

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