A Canyon Pizza employee suffered minor injuries after he was assaulted early Saturday morning, the State College Police Department said.

Police said employee Eric Garton, 21, of Sparks Street, told them two men and a woman carrying a video recorder entered the building, 260 E. Beaver Ave., at about 1:30 a.m. and walked behind the counter.

After repeatedly telling the three that they were not permitted behind the counter, Garton asked them to leave.

As they were leaving, one of the men punched Garton in the face, police said. Garton suffered a laceration and bruising over his left eye.

He called police, and the three suspects were located and detained in the vicinity.

Police said Garton was able to identify the suspects, and charges are pending against one of the male suspects, whom police would not identify.

Canyon Pizza co-owner Greg Nau declined to comment. Nau said he did not want to compromise the investigation.

This incident is one of several in recent weeks in Beaver Canyon as the State College Borough Council prepares to vote on use of surveillance cameras in the area.

Council has pointed to the recent incidents as a factor considered in arguing for the installation of cameras between the 200 and 300 blocks of Beaver Avenue.

"I think anytime you have an incident on Beaver Canyon, it strengthens the argument for surveillance cameras as a means of identifying suspects," Cpl. Mark Argiro said.

Argiro said cameras could have been useful in investigating a March 29 incident in which a State College police officer suffered head injuries after being struck by a beer bottle.

The injury occurred as the officer was attempting to break up a disorderly crowd on the 200 block of East Beaver Avenue.

Police are investigating a similar incident on April 12 in which a bottle was thrown from a fourth-story balcony and narrowly missed striking a man in the rear parking lot of Beaver Hill Apartments, 340 E. Beaver Ave.

Police said glass fragments peppered the victim's legs.