PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jury selection is set to begin in the trial of a fired Pittsburgh police officer facing civil rights charges that he wrongly beat a drunken man and then lied about it in a report.
The jury picked starting Monday will hear evidence when the trial of former Sgt. Stephen Matakovich starts May 22.
TRENDING NOW:
- 1 dead in 7-alarm fire in Downtown high-rise
- Police officer accidentally overdoses during traffic stop
- Fight at Fun Fore All, owner responds to cell phone video
- Does the most popular weed killer on the planet cause cancer?
Matakovich faces charges of deprivation of civil rights and falsification of a document. He claimed the man appeared ready to attack at a high school football championship game at Heinz Field in 2015. Surveillance video showed the man with his hands at his sides and not advancing when he was pushed down and struck by Matakovich.
A federal judge has barred uniformed officers from the courtroom after prosecutors raised concerns that could influence the jury.
RELATED HEADLINES:
- Firing of officer caught on video punching teen during Heinz Field arrest upheld
- Police Review Board approves investigation into Pittsburgh officer's 'salary enhancements' while on leave
- Pittsburgh police chief orders firing of officer involved in Heinz Field arrest
- Allegheny County DA directs that charges be refiled after Heinz Field arrest
- FBI reviewing actions of police officer accused of using excessive force at Heinz Field
Cox Media Group