PA Police Officer Assaulted Teen: Attorney General

LAWRENCE COUNTY, PA — A former police officer is facing criminal charges related to a June incident at a Sheetz store.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Friday that Robert Magnifico, then a sergeant with the Elllwood City police department, pushed a 19-year-old man, denied him of his rights and also filed a report about the incident that was not an accurate version of what occurred.

Magnifico retired last month.

He has been charged with simple assault, official oppression, tampering with public records and unsworn falsification to authorities.

According to Sunday's office, Magnifico was dispatched to the store when the 19-year-old customer got into a dispute with Sheetz staff over a phone he forgot while in the store. An employee would not return the phone to the man, and police were called to the store.

Magnifico allegedly shoved the man to the ground, threw his phone on a table, and snatched and threw a phone of the man’s friend as he recorded the encounter.

"The encounter, which was captured on video, shows a sworn officer engaged in abusive and intimidating behavior that is clearly out of bounds, and, in fact, a series of criminal acts,” Sunday said in a statement.

On June 6, 2025, the 19-year-old and a 16-year-old friend purchased food at the Sheetz store on 5th Street in Ellwood City. Realizing he forgot his phone, the alleged victim called the store and was told he could return and retrieve the phone.

At the store, staff did not return the phone and police were called. The phone owner provided information about it, including its passcode, but still did not receive the phone back. He became verbally frustrated.

Magnifico came from behind a counter and shoved the man to the ground and verbally berated him. The 16-year-old recorded the interaction on his phone. The 19-year-old asked for the officer’s badge number and name. Magnifico provided the information while walking towards the man and bumping into him in an intimidating manner.

Magnifico then grabbed the 16-year-old’s phone and threw it onto a table. The two customers then left the store. The 19-year-old was treated at an area hospital.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18.