Pennsylvania State Trooper Found Guilty of Assault and Official Oppression

Trooper Ryan Luckenbaugh (left) Christopher Siennick (right)

A jury convicted suspended state Trooper Ryan Luckenbaugh for simple assault and official oppression.  It began when Luckenbaugh kicked a handcuffed Harrisburg man in the face.

Christopher Siennick was riding his skate board on May 16, 2015 when Luckenbaugh and his partner, Trooper Michael Trotta drove past Christopher, who gave them the finger.

Penn Live reports that Luckenbaugh and Trotta chased Christopher, tased, pepper sprayed, and handcuffed him.  Christopher’s mouth was running with saliva in reaction to the pepper spray.  When spittal fell on Luckenbaugh’s shoes, he responded by saying, “Spit on this” and he kicked Christopher in the face.   At Luckenbaugh’s trial, Senior Deputy District Attorney Stephen Zawisky said, “Certainly, Trooper Luckenbaugh knew he couldn’t kick a handcuffed man in the head.”

The incident was caught on dash cam.

It didn’t stop with the kick to Christopher’s head.  Luckenbaugh filed an arrest warrant that alleged that Christopher ignored his verbal commands to get off the street, and threw something that hit his cruiser.  Christopher spent two weeks in jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Harrisburg police officers intervened to stop the abuse and contacted the District Attorney’s office that prompted the investigation into Luckenbaugh’s actions.  The dash cam recording shows that both of Luckenbaugh’s claims are not true.

Christopher is known in the area as a local activist.  At trial, defense attorney Edward Spreha Jr. called Christopher  “the local leftist”. countered.

It took the jury 45 minutes to decide the verdict.   Christopher Siennick had a one-word reaction to the verdict. “Cowabunga!” he said.

Luckenbaugh’s sentencing is scheduled for April.  Senior Deputy District Attorney Stephen Zawisky said he’ll probably seek jail time.

Luckenbaug’s partner, Trooper Michael Trotta, was terminated for misconduct.