A state trooper stationed in Armstrong County who was suspended without pay in September after being accused of harassing a 15-year-old boy was found not guilty of the charge.

Trooper Nickolas R. Elliott, 30, was cleared of the harrassment charge during a hearing on Wednesday before Kittanning District Judge James H. Owen.

Elliott’s lawyer, Patrick J. Thomassey of Monroeville, could not be reached for comment following the hearing.

Prior to the court proceeding, he said the charges should not have been filed against Elliott in the first place.

Thomassey said there was “a little shoving going on” during the incident but Elliott did nothing wrong.

He said it was unfair for law enforcement officers who “are out there risking their lives” to have their livelihood jeopardized “over something like this.”

The criminal complaint against Elliott, filed by state police Sgt. Jason Swope, claimed 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, the short road leading from Route 422 to the Troop D station, the complaint said.

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.

The charge was filed after an investigation by the state police Internal Affairs Division, according to a news release from the law enforcement agency.

State police spokeswoman Grace Griffaton said Elliott will remain on restricted duty until the completion of an internal investigation to determine if he violated the governor’s code of ethics even though he was found not guilty.

She said there is no time frame for how long it will take to complete the investigation, which could result in additional discipline for the trooper.

Elliott enlisted in the state police in October 2016.

In 2019 he was named the Kittanning state police station’s “Trooper of the Year” for helping to arrest about 100 people for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the previous year.

Troop D’s coverage area includes Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties, along with Alle-Kiski Valley communities in Allegheny County, Route 28 from the Armstrong County line to the Pittsburgh city limits and Interstate 80 through Venango County.

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