White Utica Cop Caught on Video Kicking a Restrained Black Man's Face Several Times While wearing Boots Pled Guilty to Felony pursuant to Plea Deal Requiring Him to Resign, but No Jail Time

From [HERE] The Utica police officer caught on video stomping on a Black man’s head while he was in police custody has pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation.

Matthew Felitto admitted to kicking Kerwin Taylor in the head and chest while transporting him to the station on Sept. 4, 2020. Taylor had his hands and feet shackled at the time of the assault. The DOJ stated,

As part of his guilty plea today, Felitto admitted that on September 4, 2020, while working as a police officer for the Utica Police Department, he arrived on the scene of an arrest to assist in transporting the arrested individual to the station. The arrestee was handcuffed behind his back and in leg shackles when Felitto arrived, because the arrestee had been refusing to comply with the commands of other officers already on-scene. Felitto helped those officers place the arrestee in the back of a police van. Once the arrestee was lying on the floor of the van face up and restrained, Felitto kicked him several times in the face and upper chest while wearing work boots. The kicks were without legal justification and were made with sufficient force to cause the arrestee pain and a bruised/swollen lip.

Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, Felitto was required to, and did, resign from the Utica Police Department effective immediately. Sentencing is scheduled for May 25, 2022. If the Court accepts the parties’ plea agreement, the defendant will receive a sentence of probation for a term and under conditions set by the Court, and a fine of $7,500. As a felon, Felitto will also be prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. [MORE]

Taylor was awarded $150,000 in the excessive force case.