HEC News: Police End Riot Near Penn State University
Police Put Quick End to Riot Near Penn State U.
Daily Collegian 7/17/2000
Police Put Quick End to Riot Near Penn State U.
by Frank Bradley & Fred Cichon
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., July 17 -- Police used pepper spray and riot gear to disperse an estimated 2,500 people, mostly students, who flooded the corner of Beaver Avenue and Locust Lane, resulting in 15 arrests and causing minor property damage early Sunday morning.
A number of others had their identification confiscated for summary offenses. Balconies where people were naked or throwing projectiles to incite the crowd were identified by their numbers and later cleared by police, State College Police Sgt. John Gardner said.
The riot began at about 2:30 a.m. when the mob started chanting and taunting police on the sidewalks of Beaver Avenue near Acme Pizza. Police grabbed riot gear from nearby patrol cars when the mob broke a large window in the lobby of Cedarbrook, 320 E. Beaver Ave., ripped down street signs and tried to take down a light post.
Police moved into the middle of the throng and pushed the crowd out using cans of pepper spray and batons. The State College Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police cleared streets by 4 a.m. and sealed off Alexander Court, 309 E. Beaver Ave., Cedarbrook and Penn Tower, 255 E. Beaver Ave., apartment buildings, keeping residents and visitors inside. Police also entered the buildings to clear balconies with the help of apartment security.
Beer bottles and plastic cups were thrown into the crowd from the balconies.
"[The thrown bottles] were the most dangerous part of the night with bottles flying down seven stories from a building," Martin Austermuhle, a senior, said.
Austermuhle was charged with disorderly conduct and failure to disperse. Gardner said the projectiles thrown from the balconies onto the street as well as pedestrians helped intensify the crowd Saturday night.
"After awhile, it became a game, and they did not care who they hit," Gardner said.
The police moved fast, controlling the mob within about 20 minutes, but some onlookers thought the police were too violent. Several people who were sprayed wandered into the neighboring apartment buildings, knocking on doors asking for help. Their faces were red and swollen and their eyes tinged purple from the chemicals.
Michael Fields, a senior, said police tried to arrest him while he was fixing his screen door on the first floor of the Diplomat, and several of his friends were temporarily blinded by the pepper spray.
"I'm positive the police used excessive force and I will be pressing charges," Fields said.
Officers on the scene used pepper spray after telling the crowd to disperse and anyone who failed to do so was subsequently sprayed, Gardner said.
Many of the people in the center of mob began to cover their faces with their shirts and other pieces of clothing so they could hold their position when the citrus-smelling fumes engulfed the crowd.
"I think our people responded professionally," Gardner said. "Our tactics kept it from getting out of control."
While no officers were seriously injured, one officer was struck in the helmet with a rock and another was struck with a beer bottle, causing one officer's face shield to shatter. In addition, three tires on a police car were punctured, State College police said.
Cedarbrook, Penn Tower, Alexander Court, The Diplomat, The Legend and Kappa Sigma fraternity are some of the buildings police entered to clear balconies and disperse crowds, Gardner said.
Some of the people arrested at the riot were Penn State students. All 15 arrested were arraigned before District Justice Bradley Lunsford. Michael Van Zandt, of State College, was arrested for aggravated assault and rioting.
The following were arrested for failure to disperse: Michael J. Lewis of Springfield; Adriana Schwartz; Michael A. Byrne of Pittsburgh; Martin A. Austermuhle; Matthew L. Rodwick of Bronxville, N.Y.; Robert M. Lentz of York; William T. O'Berg of Aston; Christopher M. Balmer of Fort Drum, N.Y.; Stephen Pirrello of Hatfield; Robert M. Belkowski of Freedom; and Michael C. Skaskiw.
The following were arrested for failure to disperse and resisting arrest: Joshua M. Feary of Annville, Brandon L. Kissell of Lock Haven and Edward D. Oswald Jr. of Philadelphia.
Many in the crowd were intoxicated, similar to the more destructive riot in July 1998, which also occurred during the arts festival. That riot began around 1:20 a.m. on July 12, 1998, when a trash can and other objects were thrown in the street on the 300 block of East Beaver Avenue. As word spread, the crowd quickly grew to more than 1,500 people.
Several fires, fueled by furniture, tree limbs and other objects, also broke out during the riot, which lasted about 2 1/2 hours. The State College Police Department officially attributed the cause of the riot to too many people abusing alcohol. State College Borough officials estimated about $150,000 of property was destroyed or damaged as a result of the riot.
Dozens were arrested in connection with the 1998 riot. Charges were filed against many, resulting in several riot trials at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
Some students were sentenced up to 23 1/2 months in prison. Sixteen men were required to serve 100 community service hours to the borough between March 29, 1999 and Sept. 3, 1999. Others were sentenced for a variety of charges.
Tim Swift contributed to this report.
Source: http://www.studentadvantage.com/news/article/1,3847,c8-i0-t0-a40619,00.html
Daily Collegian 7/20/2000
Penn State Police Call for Photos, Videos of Riot
by Leslie Craze
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., July 20 -- In hopes of identifying additional riot participants, Pennsylvania State University Police Chief Tom King requested Monday that any video or still camera footage taken by witnesses at the scene be turned over into police custody.
According to Lt. Diane Conrad, that request is being honored. By Tuesday, the police station had three tapes in its possession and yesterday there were messages from others who planned to come forward with information, Conrad said.
Police hope to use the footage to identify any other offenders who were not arrested at the scene and to recognize additional crimes committed by those who were arrested.
Conrad said videos will help them get at least a few more identifications, adding about 10 people were apprehended from the videos turned over to police in the 1998 riot.
In the aftermath of the first riot, many violators found their pictures posted at local businesses after being downloaded and printed from the Web site, www.gov.state-college.pa.us.
Police plan to post photos obtained of blatant violators in this year's riot on the Web site for identification as well, Conrad said.
Sgt. John Wilson said the department expects the videos to be helpful in their investigation. He added police also are hoping to have people report what they witnessed, even if they didn't catch it on film or video.
"We asked for any coverage with the last incident in 1998 and it helped. It involves cooperation from the community," Wilson said. Some students, however, are more skeptical of the usefulness of King's request.
Tom McKnight, a sophomore in information sciences and technology, who witnessed the riot from his residence on Beaver Avenue, said he doesn't think the videos will be helpful.
"I really don't think anyone's going to rat anyone else out," he said. McKnight said if there was more property damage, as in the 1998 riot, people might be more likely to come out to identify violators for prosecution.
"If you have personal damages, you'll be more upset," said Kristin Goold, a sophomore in animal bioscience. "This is more like, it's over now, let's forget about it."
Both McKnight and Goold agreed that more of an issue is being made of this year's incident than is necessary.
But police, however, have a different view of the situation.
Conrad said the behavior witnessed at the weekend's riot was no different from that seen two years ago, and might have, in fact been worse. She added the only reason excessive damages were avoided was that police were more prepared and were able to react more quickly.
"You can see it in the videos we have right now," Conrad said. "You can see how much more serious the situation would have been if we hadn't been able to react right away."
Source: http://www.studentadvantage.com/news/article/1,3847,c8-i0-t0-a41330,00.html
Daily Collegian 7/20/2000
Penn State University Blames Drinking for Riots
by Justin Stranzl
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., July 20 -- In light of the July 16 riot, Pennsylvania State University officials blamed excessive alcohol consumption for students' behavior but hesitate to institute any new regulations on student drinking.
"The situation was a direct result of excessive alcohol consumption," said Steve MacCarthy, executive director of university relations.
"We're very disappointed that Penn State students would do anything this irresponsible and this stupid." Despite the role alcohol played in the situation, MacCarthy said there would be no immediate change in alcohol regulations by the university.
Rather, Penn State will continue to work to increase public awareness of the dangers of binge drinking, he said. "We'll continue our efforts in the community and on campus to educate people on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption," MacCarthy said.
MacCarthy said it was frustrating that for the second time in three years the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts was marred by excessive drinking. "It's so disappointing that after all of the problems we had two years ago, and after all of the university's efforts to increase awareness of those problems, that we still see this happen," he said.
Although Penn State President Graham Spanier could not be reached for comment, MacCarthy said Spanier was extremely displeased by the events early Sunday morning. "Mr. Spanier is embarrassed and outraged by what happened," he said.
Although not all of the people involved in the riot were Penn State students, MacCarthy said student involvement in Sunday's events was significant.
"Eleven of the 15 people arrested were students, so obviously Penn State students played a large role in what happened," he said.
Students arrested for their actions during Sunday's events could be facing punishment by the university in addition to criminal charges, MacCarthy said.
"Those involved will be dealt with in a serious manner, just like the last time," said MacCarthy, referring to the disciplinary action taken by the Office of Judicial Affairs against students involved in the riot of 1998. The office suspended six students from the university, placed two others on deferred suspension and gave three students disciplinary probation.
Joe Puzycki, director of judicial affairs, said although disciplinary action against those arrested is likely, the exact action that will be taken depends on the charges against each individual.
"Students were cited for everything from standing on sidewalks to assaulting officers," Puzycki said. "The range of punishment could cover anything from community service to expulsion."
Regardless of the method of discipline, Ben Weagraff, a sophomore in international business, said punishment is definitely deserved. "You should be responsible for your own actions," he said. "[The arrested students] shouldn't get off scot-free."
While arrests might not be the perfect solution, said Joe Manojlovich, a senior in computer science, something needs to be done to change people's perception of the festival. "We've got to change the way arts fest is viewed, so it's not just a drunken party," he said.
Source: http://www.studentadvantage.com/news/article/1,3847,c8-i0-t0-a41324,00.html
Last Update: July 28, 2000