Man Charged with Simple Assault after Alleged Altercation with Woman

A Spring Mills man faces multiple charges after an alleged altercation with a woman in downtown State College.

Lawrence Stamps, 45, is charged with misdemeanor simple assault, along with summary charges of physical harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness stemming from an alleged incident early Sunday.

State College Police responded to a call at about 1:15 a.m. for a report of a man pushing a woman outside of the Days Inn on South Pugh Street. An officer approached the scene on foot, and could hear screaming. The officer saw several men pushing and yelling at each other, according to a criminal complaint, and a woman was on the ground screaming in pain. 

The officer secured Stamps, who allegedly appeared ‘highly intoxicated as he was swaying and nearly fell down several times,’ according to the criminal complaint. Stamps reportedly had red marks on his face and a bruise under his left eye.

Stamps allegedly told police that his girlfriend, the woman who was lying on the ground, ‘was doing things she shouldn’t.’ Police allege Stamps admitted he was involved in a fight with the woman and said she had slapped him several times, but that he was not sure how she had fallen down. He also allegedly said he was involved in a fight with another man but was unsure how he had acquired the bruise.

Stamps allegedly fell over and hit his head as EMS personnel attempted to evaluate him and he was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center for head injuries and intoxication. 

The woman told police she and Stamps had argued at a bar and that the other man had come to pick her up. She said that when she arrived at the Days Inn, Stamps pinned her against a wall and would not let her go. 

She allegedly admitted that she slapped Stamps several times and said that after she had broken free he ‘football tackled her to the ground,’ according to the criminal complaint. The woman was in a neck brace and complained about back pain while she spoke to police.

One witness reportedly told police that he saw Stamps push the woman against a rail several times and that he would not let her get away. Another witness allegedly said that Stamps pushed the woman to the ground, causing her injury.

Stamps was arraigned before District Judge Carmine Prestia and posted $5,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 4.