PSU Police Now Leading Knife Assault Investigation
By: by Cody Combs and Aaron Cheslock
Updated: December 14, 2012
STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - The man who allegedly took a knife to a Penn State grad student's neck is still at large, but now the investigation is being led by the Penn State University Police.
Earlier the investigation was being led by the Ferguson Township police, but since it was later determined that the attack occurred in Penn State Arboretum in Sunset Park, Penn State police have taken the lead in trying to find the suspect.
The attack happened around 2:30pm Wednesday, near Sunset Park while a woman was riding her bike.
During the attack, the woman bit the alleged attacker in the hand before running to safety.
The woman was bleeding from her neck, but was treated and released from a hospital.
On Thursday, an unmarked police car and police on ATVs were patrolling the arboretum area looking for clues and asking questions to students using the bike trail.
Penn State First-Year student Amanda Gephart was using the bike trail when police asked her if she saw a man dressed in black.
Gephart didn't realize she was running so close to the trail where the attack happened, so she turned around.
"I figured I could run where there are more people around," she said.
The attacker is described as a white man, 20-30 years old, with a slim to medium build. Police say he has facial hair. One report says his beard that comes down to a point. He's around 5'8", wearing black clothing, a gray jacket and a backpack. The suspect could be carrying a knife and should be considered dangerous.
Anyone with information should contact Penn State University Police at (814) 863-1111 or Centre County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-99-CRIME.
Earlier the investigation was being led by the Ferguson Township police, but since it was later determined that the attack occurred in Penn State Arboretum in Sunset Park, Penn State police have taken the lead in trying to find the suspect.
The attack happened around 2:30pm Wednesday, near Sunset Park while a woman was riding her bike.
During the attack, the woman bit the alleged attacker in the hand before running to safety.
The woman was bleeding from her neck, but was treated and released from a hospital.
On Thursday, an unmarked police car and police on ATVs were patrolling the arboretum area looking for clues and asking questions to students using the bike trail.
Penn State First-Year student Amanda Gephart was using the bike trail when police asked her if she saw a man dressed in black.
Gephart didn't realize she was running so close to the trail where the attack happened, so she turned around.
"I figured I could run where there are more people around," she said.
The attacker is described as a white man, 20-30 years old, with a slim to medium build. Police say he has facial hair. One report says his beard that comes down to a point. He's around 5'8", wearing black clothing, a gray jacket and a backpack. The suspect could be carrying a knife and should be considered dangerous.
Anyone with information should contact Penn State University Police at (814) 863-1111 or Centre County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-99-CRIME.
