A touted track and field recruit faces a felony charge after police say she donkey-kicked an officer and stole vitamins from a downtown convenience store.
Penn State student Evonne Britton, 18, is charged with one count of felony aggravated assault, one summary count of harassment and one summary count of retail theft, the State College Police Department said.
Britton (freshman-health and human development) was arrested Jan. 5 at McLanahan's Student Store, 414 E. College Ave., after McLanahan's security officer Patrick Fuller called police and said he saw her attempt to shoplift a bottle of One A Day Energy vitamins, police said.
When police arrived, Britton was sitting on the floor inside the store and refused to get up, according to police reports. Officers tried to escort Britton out of the store to a police car, but as they were walking through the store, Britton let her body go limp and fell to the ground, police said.
Britton was lifted back up and taken outside, but refused to get into the back seat of the vehicle and tried to pull away, police said.
It was then Britton "donkey-kicked" Officer E.J. Kessinger, who sustained minor injuries to the lower left leg and left wrist, police said.
Fuller told police he tried to stop Britton and also requested she go back into the store to pay for the merchandise, police said.
Britton kicked Fuller in the legs, police said, although he was not injured.
Britton was released from the Centre County Correctional Facility on Jan. 5 on $2,500 bail. She was not present at the most recent Penn
State women's track and field meet on Jan. 9 but did compete at the first meet of the season on Dec. 12. Track and field coaches could not be reached for comment, and Britton did not return a request for comment as of press time Tuesday.
