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.
"They (the thrown bottles) were the most dangerous part of the night with bottles flying down seven stories from a building," Martin Austermuhle (senior-international politics) said. Austermuhle was charged with disorderly conduct and failure to disperse.
Gardner said that the projectiles thrown from the balconies onto the street and 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 (senior-economics) said police tried to arrest him while he was fixing his screen door on the first floor of the Diplomat, 329 E. Beaver Ave., 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, 246 Highland Ave., and Kappa Sigma fraternity, 255 Highland Ave., 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, 309 E. Beaver Ave., Michael A. Byrne of Pittsburgh, Martin A. Austermuhle, 347 W. Nittany Ave., 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, 300 College Ave., Apt. 52.
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.
Collegian staff writer Tim Swift contributed to this report.
Send an 
