Press Release  Worcester Police Officer Found Guilty of Assaulting a Prisoner

Worcester — A Worcester police officer has been found guilty of assaulting a prisoner in a holding cell, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Following a bench trial at Worcester Superior Court, Judge Richard T. Tucker found Michael Motyka, age 52, guilty on the charge of one count of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (shod foot). He will be sentenced on June 30.

The AG’s Office began an extensive, months-long investigation in May 2015 after the matter was referred by the Worcester District Attorney’s Office.

Motyka is a 17-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department. He was assigned to the department’s Services Division and mainly worked in the booking room and in the department’s reception area.

Authorities found that on Dec. 1, 2014, Motyka physically assaulted a prisoner who was handcuffed and shackled in a holding cell at the Worcester Police Station while the prisoner was waiting to be transferred to court for arraignment.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Gina Masotta and Terrence Reidy of AG Healey’s Criminal Bureau, with assistance from Victim Witness Advocate Rebecca Auld, of the AG’s Victim Services Division. The investigation was handled by the Worcester Police Department and State Police assigned to the AG’s Office.  

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