Pittsburgh would pay teen $77,500 to settle police brutality lawsuit

Pittsburgh and a West End company that provides security at Heinz Field would pay a South Park man $97,500 to settle a federal lawsuit alleging a former city police officer assaulted him and violated his civil rights during high school football championships at the stadium in 2015.

Gabriel Despres, 23, sued the city and Landmark Event Staffing Services Inc., alleging former police Sergeant Stephen Matakovich assaulted and arrested him without cause on Nov. 28, 2015. The lawsuit alleges that Landmark security staff falsely detained Despres and acted in concert with Matakovich.

Video of the incident shows Matakovich pushing Despres, then 19, and repeatedly slapping his head after the teen left and attempted to reenter Heinz Field. Despres pleaded guilty to trespassing and public drunkenness in connection with the incident. Matakovich was convicted of assaulting Despres and is serving a 27-month sentence in federal prison.

“I think that Steve Matakovich was held responsible by the criminal justice system for what he did,” said Margaret Coleman, who represented Despres. “This settlement really represents the city being held responsible for allowing (Matakovich) to act in the way that he did.”

The lawsuit alleges that Matakovich, with more than 20 years as a police officer, had a history of excessive force incidents dating back years.

Under the settlement, Pittsburgh would pay Despres $77,500 and Landmark would pay $20,000, according to Coleman. Pittsburgh City Council is scheduled to introduce a resolution on Tuesday that would approve payment.

Pittsburgh officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Attorneys representing Landmark could not be reached for comment.