UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-After experiencing two on-campus incidents last week, Penn State police opted for heightened security during the 40th Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Despite increased safety measures, a strong-arm robbery, assault and several other incidents occurred during the festival.
Three witnesses reported a man threatened bystanders with a handgun after getting out of his vehicle around 12:45 a.m. July 15.
Penn State Police reported another assault around 2:20 a.m. on that same morning on the north side of Shulze Hall. A student was attacked by two unknown men and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Numerous other assaults were reported without pending charges.
Another assault occurred July 16 around 1:30 a.m., involving two men who were attacked by a group of men with a baseball bat. Around 2:35 a.m. the same morning, a student reported being robbed of $300 by two unknown men on the north side of Beaver Hall. Police say these events were unrelated.
According to State College Police Sgt. Chris Fishel, this year’s festival had an average number of calls from downtown, but the incidents were not as severe as in years past.
