Milesburg man faces simple assault charge

A Milesburg man faces assault charges after an alleged incident Saturday night.

According to the criminal complaint filed by state police at Rockview, a trooper reported at about 8:50 p.m. to the Sunoco gas station along East Sycamore Road in Snow Shoe Township. On arrival, he spoke with Troy L. Ripka, 33, who had reportedly left the scene of the incident and walked to the gas station.

While speaking with the trooper, Ripka allegedly stated, “You might as well take me to jail because I hit her,” police said. He reportedly smelled of alcohol and was taken into investigatory detention.

The trooper spoke with a female along the 400 block of East Sycamore, police said, who claimed she had been arguing with Ripka earlier in the day when he punched her multiple times with a closed fist. The trooper reportedly observed a laceration on the bridge of her nose, and she stated she was having issues with her jaw.

The trooper also observed the windshield of the woman’s vehicle was broken, police said. She reportedly stated Ripka had punched the windshield before hitting her.

Ripka was arraigned Sunday before District Judge Steven Lachman, according to court documents, and charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, and summary charges of harassment and public drunkenness. Unsecured bail was set at $25,000.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

This story was originally published June 19, 2017 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Milesburg man faces simple assault charge."