Pa. trooper suspended after being charged with harassing 15-year-old boy

A state trooper stationed in Armstrong County has been suspended without pay after being charged with harassing a 15-year-old boy, according to authorities.

Charges were filed by state police against Trooper Nickolas R. Elliott, 30, of Butler following an investigation into the incident by the state police Internal Affairs Division, according to a news release from the law enforcement agency.

State police Sgt. Jason Swope filed a criminal complaint against Elliott in support of the charge of harassment/physical contact. It alleges that on June 27, Elliott “pushed the victim from behind and later subjected him to physical contact while the victim was seated in a vehicle that served no legitimate purpose.”

The incident occurred along Parkview Extension, which is the short road leading from Route 422 to the state police’s Troop D police station, according to the complaint.

Investigators did not release details about the circumstances that led to the encounter between Elliott and the teen, who was not publicly identified by police.

“PSP (Pennsylvania State Police) does not tolerate such action in any situation and takes these allegations seriously,” authorities wrote in the release.

Elliott entered a not guilty plea on Thursday before Kittanning District Judge James Owen.

State police spokeswoman Grace Griffaton said Elliott will be suspended without pay “until resolution of the criminal charge against him.”

She did not know if the trooper would face additional discipline if he is found guilty of the charge.

“There’s an internal process in which the case will be vetted on multiple levels,” she said.

The case also will be reviewed to determine if the trooper violated the governor’s code of conduct, Griffaton said.

Elliott enlisted in the state police in October 2016.

He is assigned to Troop D’s patrol section.