Four men were arrested after police said a bloody, drug-related brawl ensued early Sunday morning at a University Terrace apartment.
The State College Police Department responded to the incident at about 5 a.m. Sunday at 924 Bellaire Ave. after witnesses saw several men assault another man with golf clubs, according to court documents.
Police discovered bloody and broken golf clubs, a crowbar and blood spatter throughout and around the W203 apartment, according to court documents. Police said they also found 2.6 pounds of marijuana and almost $1,000 cash in a blue Honda that belongs to Stephan Jarmak, 20, a resident of the apartment.
Upon arrival at the scene, State College police said officers found Lawrence Murphy, 20, covered in blood and wearing nothing but shorts, while carrying a black and red duffel bag that smelled strongly of marijuana.
Jarmak told police he hid in his bathroom after Murphy began pounding on his door, wearing a mask and carrying a duffel bag, according to court documents.
Police said Murphy continued to bang on the door until Cory Seibert, 22, a friend of Jarmak’s who was staying in his apartment, let him in. According to court documents, Murphy then went into Jarmak’s room after he asked to speak to “Stephan” and said he was looking for “the drugs.”
Jarmak told police he struck Murphy with a barstool after he began to leave the room with a duffel bag full of Jarmak’s marijuana. Police said Murphy attempted to hit Jarmak with a crowbar and yelled, “Don’t make me kill you!”
Jarmak’s roomate, Corey Stranzl, 21, who is listed in the Penn State student directory as an agriculture major, and Seibert joined the fight when Jarmak told them he was being robbed, hitting Murphy with golf clubs and their bare hands, according to court documents.
Police said Murphy then surrendered to the men and offered to return the stolen drugs if he could have his duffel bag and car keys back.
Jarmak, who admitted to being a drug dealer to police, then put the drugs in his car, and, according to court documents, Seibert and Stranzl began fighting with Murphy again when he tried to re-enter the apartment.
Police searched the apartment and found multiple items used to grow marijuana, including grow lamps and marijuana seeds, according to court documents. They also found several more items that indicated intent to deliver the drugs, including plastic baggies, a digital scale and nearly $2,000 in cash.
Murphy was transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center and then to Geisinger Medical Center for serious injuries including “lacerations on his face and puncture wounds on his face and neck,” according to the complaint. Witnesses told police they saw Murphy being hit with golf clubs and fists, and that he was also “stabbed” with a broken golf club.
Seibert was also taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for a suspected fractured foot. According to the complaint, Stranzl was covered in blood and had cuts on his hands.
All four men were arraigned Sunday before Centre County District Judge Thomas Jordan. Jarmak and Stranzl face two counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault as well as several drug charges. Murphy faces charges of burglary, criminal trespass, robbery and simple assault in addition to several drug charges. Seibert was charged with two counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault.
Jarmak, Stranzl and Murphy are being held in the Centre County Correctional Facility in lieu of $200,000 straight bail.
Seibert is being held in lieu of $50,000 straight bail.
Adam Slusser, a University Terrace resident, said he saw the incident occur and was glad to see the police arrive at the scene.
“It’s definitely not something you like to see,” Slusser said. “I mean, stuff goes on like this I guess, but it’s awful.”
