Perjury charge dismissed against officer in fan arrest
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A former Pittsburgh police sergeant has won dismissal of the most serious charge against him but was ordered to stand trial on other counts in the arrest of a drunken man at a high school championship football game last fall.
A district judge in Allegheny County dismissed a felony perjury charge Friday against 47-year-old Steven Matakovich in the November arrest at Heinz field. The judge also tossed counts of official oppression and unsworn falsification that were added in February when prosecutors refiled the case after a different judge dismissed it.
But Matakovich was held for trial on the two original charges of simple assault and official oppression.
The 22-year veteran also faces federal charges of deprivation of civil rights and falsification of a record.