Updated 9:23 p.m.
At least one parked car was damaged and “several” one-way and stop signs were stolen during a “celebratory disturbance” Sunday night in downtown State College following the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, according to borough police.
State College Public Works also assessed potential damage to light poles and street signs. Total damage to public property is estimated at just under $3,000, Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said at Monday night’s Borough Council meeting, and the cost of damage to the private vehicle was not yet known.
Revelers began pouring into the street at about 10:20 p.m. in the Beaver Canyon area between the 200 and 400 blocks of East Beaver Avenue, shutting down the road. State College police, with assistance from Penn State, Patton Township and Ferguson Township police, “monitored the street takeover until the crowd began removing traffic control devices, climbing streetlights and climbing on cars parked along the street,” borough police wrote in a statement.
Officers then began using a public address system ordering the crowd to disperse, and a message from Chief John Gardner was sent through the Penn State alert system calling the gathering an “unlawful assembly,” warning participants that they could face misdemeanor and summary charges for blocking a public passage and failure to disperse.
Police began clearing the road by moving west to east starting at 10:55 p.m. and the crowd was dispersed by 11:30 p.m.
“The police presence, accompanied by verbal instructions, were successful in accomplishing this process,” according to the release.
Gardner’s message had warned that chemical spray could be deployed if the crowd failed to leave, but police said on Monday that none was used.
No arrests were made on site and no injuries were reported.
Police plan to use photos and videos from the scene to identify individuals responsible for damage.
Anyone who may have video or information related to the damage that occurred during the incident is asked to contact the State College Police Department at 814-234-7150, by email or by submitting an anonymous tip online.
The State College Public Works Department, the Centre County Sheriff’s Office, Pennsylvania State Police, Alpha Fire Company and Centre Life Link EMS also assisted in what borough police called a “pre-planned deployment of resources.”
