WORCESTER, Mass. (
MyFoxBoston.com) -- Police have arrested one of their own officers Thursday after investigating a complaint that he beat a man and made disparaging racial remarks against him while the man was waiting to be transferred from the police department to the county courthouse for arraignment.
The incident, first reported in March, allegedly took place in December, 2014.
While the man was handcuffed and shackled in a holding cell, the officer, Michael Motyka, allegedly entered and forced the man against a wall, punched him, threw him to the floor and kicked him.
Also, while the man was being released from prison, Officer Motyka "made a disparaging remark with respect to the complainant's 'black' skin."
Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst of the Worcester Police Department said, "The officer went into the holing cell, forced the complainant against the wall and struck him, threw him down to the ground and kicked him."
Motyka was charged with with assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot) and a civil rights violation.
Motyka, 50, is a 17-year veteran of the department and has been placed on paid administrative leave. According to the City of Worcester, he made a total gross pay, incorporating overtime and pay detail, of $116,738 in 2013. That made him 231st on the list of highest paid city employees. The following year, in 2014, he made a total gross pay, incorporating overtime and paid detail, of $115,308. That made him 260th on the list of highest paid city employees.
