New Jersey Man Accused of Breaking Into The Tavern

A New Jersey man is accused of breaking into a downtown State College restaurant this past weekend.

Gavin Freihofer, 19, from West Northfield N.J., was arrested on Sept. 20 after police responded to a call about a broken window at the Tavern Restaurant on College Avenue.

According to court documents, when police arrived on the scene, they found the broken second story window and a brown backpack next to it. When an officer entered the building through the broken window and noticed movement behind a laundry cart, Friehofer was found allegedly holding two bottles of alcohol. The officer reported that Friehofer smelled of alcoholic beverages and had bloodshot eyes.

The suspect was taken to the State College Police Department where he reportedly told officers that he climbed the roof of the tavern, broke the window and left his backpack on the roof. Once inside, he allegedly stole the two bottles of alcohol he was found with as well as two bottles of wine, the criminal complaint said. The estimated value of the stolen alcohol was $120.

According to the court document, an officer also found synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the suspect’s backpack.

Freihofer has been charged with felony charges of burglary and criminal trespass and misdemeanor charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, possession of a controlled substance, and a summary charge of criminal mischief.

Freihofer is being held on $15,000 bail and is set to have his preliminary hearing Sept. 23 at 8:30 a.m.