Cop accused of intimidation was ‘prowling’ in woods behind witness’s home, PA police say

A Pennsylvania state trooper is accused of intimidating a potential witness in a child abuse case and “prowling” outside their home at night while armed, officials say.

Christopher S. Young, a 34-year-old trooper with Pennsylvania State Police, is charged with intimidation of a witness, stalking and loitering and prowling at night, according to a March 4 news release from the state attorney general’s office. Witness intimidation is a felony.

“Young, in recent weeks, repeatedly called and text messaged a potential witness in a child abuse investigation,” officials said.

He was also “armed with a gun and knife in a wooded area behind the witness’ house in Schuylkill County” late at night on Feb. 24, the attorney general’s office said.

Young joined the state police in 2017 and is assigned to Troop L, located in Hamburg, according to officials. However, he’s now suspended without pay.

“These charges outline disturbing and deliberate attempts to influence witness cooperation in a very serious police matter,” Attorney General David Sunday said in the release. “As a sworn officer with an oath to protect the community, the defendant’s alleged behavior will not be tolerated.”

Bail was denied for Young by a judge who deemed the trooper to be “a danger to himself and others,” officials said.

Officials shared little about the child abuse case, saying only the “investigation is ongoing.” It’s also unclear how Young is connected with the case.

Schuylkill County is a roughly 90-mile drive northwest from Philadelphia.