(File Photo)(Original photo credit Rachel Rausch, Screen shot from social media post)  

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a former Lawrence County police officer has been charged with assault, official oppression and related offenses regarding a June incident at a Sheetz store.
Robert Magnifico, then a sergeant with the Ellwood City Police Department, pushed a 19-year-old man, denied the man of his rights, then filed a report about the incident that was not an accurate version of what took place.
Magnifico is charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, official oppression, tampering with public records, and unsworn falsification to authorities. (He retired last month.)
Magnifico was dispatched to the store when the 19-year-old customer became engaged in 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 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,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Pennsylvanians should feel confident they can depend on law enforcement officers to protect them, and this one officer’s actions threaten that sense of security.”
On June 6, 2025, the 19-year-old victim and a 16-year-old friend purchased food at the Sheetz store on 5th Street in Ellwood City. Realizing he forgot his phone, the 19-year-old called the store and was told he could return and retrieve the phone.
At the store, staff did not return the phone to the victim and police were called. The victim provided information about the phone, including its passcode, but still did not receive the phone back. The victim, who was in a public area of the store, 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.
The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Kara Rice. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Magnifico is also the current Riverside Varsity Football Coach.