On September 4, 2020, Officer Matthew Felitto arrived at the scene of an arrest to assist in transporting an individual to the station. The arrestee was handcuffed behind his back and in leg shackles. While the arrestee was lying on the floor of the police van, Felitto kicked him several times in the face and upper chest without legal justification, causing pain and a bruised, swollen lip. Felitto pleaded guilty to violating the arrestee’s civil rights, resigned from the Utica Police Department, and was sentenced to two years of probation, a $7,500 fine, and 100 hours of community service.
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