Police say a University of Maryland wrestler is behind an alleged assault that occurred in Beaver Hill Apartments over the weekend.
Justin Alexander, 20, of Pittsburgh, faces a slew of criminal charges for allegedly threatening to kill a State College woman and forcibly remove her from the apartment building.
Police say that Alexander willingly turned himself in to police after the State College Police Department released surveillance photos and videos of the incident to the public.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Alexander approached a woman inside the East Beaver Avenue apartment building at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday and asked for help finding his apartment. The victim later told police that Alexander was noticeably intoxicated, but still coherent.
Although Alexander reportedly first told the woman that he lived in the same apartment building and that his name was Spencer, he began giving different names and changing his story.
Police say Alexander then grabbed the woman, pushed her into the wall, and began trying to kiss her. When she protested and turned her head away, Alexander reportedly told the victim “if you yell or try to get away, I’ll kill you.”
Alexander allegedly tried to lead the victim down the stairwell, but she grabbed onto the railing to try to pull away. Police say Alexander threw the woman over his shoulder, but she refused to let go of the railing. Alexander reportedly put her back down, and reiterated his death threat.
Alexander reportedly led the woman back into the hall and forced her into the elevator. As the elevator arrived in the lobby, the woman was able to pull away and join a group of friends that had just walked into the lobby.
Police say Alexander let the woman go, returned to the third floor, broke the glass over a fire alarm with his elbow and pulled the switch before leaving the building. Police say that they were informed of the alleged assault after apartment staff saw the incident on the surveillance footage and checked with the victim to see if she was okay.
Alexander faces charges of unlawful restraint, making terroristic threats, false imprisonment, tampering with a fire apparatus, harassment and criminal mischief. He has been arraigned on $10,000 unsecured bail and now awaits an April 29 preliminary hearing. The surveillance footage released by police can be seen below.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Alexander’s bail was $100,000. StateCollege.com apologizes for this error.
