Instead of Issuing a Ticket After a Traffic Stop a White Hartford Cop Removed a Black Man From His Truck, Cuffed Him and Forced to the Ground Where He Knelt on his Neck. Cop Charged w/Felony

From [HERE] and [HERE] A Hartford Police officer will face a trial for allegedly using excessive force during a traffic stop in August 2020.

Matthew Mistretta, 31, was arraigned in May on two counts of assault and battery, which counts as a 93 day misdemeanor and one count of misconduct in office by a public official, which counts as a five year felony.

Mistretta’s first circuit court appearance is Sept. 20 at 1:45 p.m., before Judge Brickley. 

At a preliminary hearing on Thursday, the judge bound the case over to circuit court.

The case was one of several brought by the Attorney General's Public Integrity Unit.

"My office will continue to hold public servants accountable who fail to uphold the integrity of their oath to protect and serve,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

The case is the result of a traffic stop for allegedly speeding and driving erratically.

A bystander captured video of Mistretta removing the driver from the truck, shoving him into the side of the truck to handcuff him, then slamming him on the hood of the patrol car, Nessel's office said.

Mistretta then forced the man to the ground and knelt on him "in a similar manner to the George Floyd murder," the AG's office said.

Video shows that the man did not resist Mistretta during the arrest. According to a passenger, the driver was heard telling Mistretta that he could not breathe.

The subject of the traffic stop did not resist or obstruct the officer, Nessel said.

A passenger in the truck reported hearing the driver tell the officer he couldn't breathe, reports said.