Photo: Bjoern Wylezich / iStock / Getty Images
A Reading police officer, Aaron Andre, aged 49, has been charged with simple assault and official oppression following an incident involving a restrained juvenile. The charges stem from an incident on June 25, 2025, when Andre allegedly assaulted a 16-year-old boy who was handcuffed and seat-belted inside a police transport van.
According to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, the altercation began when the juvenile, who had been involved in a domestic assault incident earlier, kicked Andre in the leg. In response, Andre reportedly punched the boy several times and pushed his head against the van's wall. The incident occurred after the juvenile was taken to Reading Hospital for evaluation.
The Reading Police Department initiated the investigation by contacting the district attorney’s office the day after the incident. Following the investigation, Andre was charged on Thursday (August 28) and issued a summons to appear in district court.
Reading police have not yet commented on Andre’s current status with the department. The charges Andre faces are both misdemeanors, and the case will proceed through the legal system in the coming months. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the use of force by law enforcement officers.