Veteran Delco Detective Charged With Indecent Assault

NETHER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP, PA — A longtime detective in Delaware County has been arrested and charged with indecent assault after an incident earlier this year involving an unconscious victim, according to authorities.

Detective Sgt. Michael Erickson had been with the Nether Providence Police Department for 21 years before he tendered his resignation Monday, police said.

The incident occurred in Aston Township, when Erickson was off duty, back in June.

Details on exactly what occurred have not been divulged by either Nether Providence Police or the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, which is leading the investigation. The AG confirmed only that the assault involved an unconscious individual.

"He was not on duty and in no way involved his employment with the police department" at the time of the incident, Nether Providence Police Chief David Splain said in a statement to the community this week.

Splain said that the investigation into Erickson has been underway since June 14. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office turned the investigation over to the PA Attorney General's Office on July 2.

Splain said Nether Providence "cooperated fully."

Erickson surrendered this week to the attorney general's office at the time the charges were filed.

A preliminary hearing is forthcoming.