Man Faces Assault Charge After Allegedly Throwing Metal Post

Police say a man who was denied entry to a State College bar threw a metal post down the stairs, striking and injuring another man.

Corey C. Nystrand, 23, of Bangor, is charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, along with summary counts of harassment and public drunkenness.

According to a criminal complaint, State College Police responded at 1:16 a.m. on May 8 to The Phyrst for a report of a male who had sustained a severe head injury. Police said Nystrand and another man were denied entry to the basement bar because the other man was too intoxicated.

The two left through the front door, but moments later the door re-opened and Nystrand threw a stanchion — a heavy metal post used to connect rope for crowd control — down the stairs, police said.

The stanchion struck a man, who was not involved with their denial of entry, in the forehead, according to the complaint. Bar staff members followed Nystrand into an alley and held him there until officers arrived. Police said Nystrand was visibly intoxicated. Surveillance video reportedly corroborated the series of events.

The man who was struck in the head was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for a deep laceration on his forehead. Doctors told police 10 stitches were needed to close the injury and that plastic surgery may be required after the stitches are removed.

Nystrand was arraigned via summons on Friday by District Judge Steven Lachman. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 21.