Reported altercation turns physical, charges follow

Two men face misdemeanor charges after a reported fight at a downtown State College restaurant.

According to State College police, an officer was dispatched at about 2:30 a.m. on July 15 to the McDonald’s at 442 E. College Ave. for a reported fight. Surveillance camera footage was used to confirm the actions of the individuals involved.

A verbal altercation between two groups of people led to a physical altercation between Thomas L. Kpankpa, 21, of State College, and Matthew I. Urhan, 29, of Woodbridge, Va., police said. The verbal argument had been reportedly broken up by a security guard when Urhan and his friends were asked to leave the establishment.

As they were leaving, police said, the argument began again and Urhan hit Kpankpa repeatedly, police said. Kpankpa retaliated, tackling Urhan and “repeatedly” striking him in the face and head.

Urhan also reportedly hit a female in his attempts to strike Kpankpa, police said.

The fight was broken up again and Urhan was dragged outside to the curb, police said. Kpankpa followed and hit Urhan again.

Both suffered facial injuries, police said. According to court documents, both were arraigned via summons by District Judge Carmine Prestia and charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault and summary counts of harassment and disorderly conduct.

Preliminary hearings are slated for Oct. 25.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 4:54 PM with the headline "Reported altercation turns physical, charges follow."