Investigates

Pittsburgh school security guard accused of assaulting 12-year-old

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh Public School officer is accused of roughing up a 12-year-old student at Arlington School.

Police said the student was apparently choking in January, when the guard allegedly pushed him through a doorway and shoved him against a wall.

According to a criminal complaint, the boy told police that the guard "put me in a little head lock and slammed me into the wall real hard, and then started screaming.”

The district told Target 11’s Rick Earle that the guard has been placed on administrative leave. District officials said they followed proper procedures after someone called the state’s child line to report the incident, prompting Pittsburgh police to launch an investigation.

According to the complaint, Robert Elser’s story wasn’t consistent with witness accounts and surveillance video.

“He didn't do anything wrong. He was disciplining a child who had actually made very, very derogatory comments,” Elser’s attorney Phil Dilucente said.

Dilucente said Elser did not do anything wrong and is surprised that police filed charges.

“The children love him. The administrators love him. I have no idea why he is even charged,” he said.