Ex-officer to face charge in alleged beating of Black man March 1, 2021 GMT LYNN, Mass. (AP) — A former Massachusetts police officer accused of beating a man who was in custody will face a criminal charge after a court official ruled there was probable cause for the case to move forward. Former Lynn Officer Matthew Coppinger faces a charge of assault and battery in connection with the alleged beating last June of Victor White that was caught on a police station security camera. The 35-year-old Coppinger resigned shortly after the encounter. Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett appointed Daniel Bennett, the former head of the state’s public safety office, to handle the case the case to avoid potential conflicts of interest.