After allegedly attempting to stab another man with a knife during a fight, a State College man was arrested and charged with multiple assault crimes. The man is now facing charges of misdemeanor simple assault and felony aggravated assault, which seems to be an excessive charge given that the alleged victim was never stabbed and only suffered minor injuries in the fight.

According to State College police reports, the fight occurred at approximately 10 p.m. last Saturday night in the parking lot of a Ferguson Township apartment building, about five miles outside State College. The alleged victim later told police that the defendant punched him several times before releasing him and going into an apartment in the complex. He then emerged from the building with a knife in his hand and allegedly rushed at the victim.

The defendant reportedly swung the knife at the victim in an "overhead downward motion," as the victim swerved from side to side to avoid coming in contact with the blade. The alleged victim was not seriously injured in the fight, but was later treated at Mount Nittany Medical Center for cuts and bruises to his lips.

After police reportedly found him hiding in an apartment in the complex, the defendant was arrested and charged with one felony count of aggravated assault and one misdemeanor count of simple assault. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing next week, during which time the judge will hopefully reduce the charges against him based on the severity, or lack thereof, of the victim's injuries.

Source: Centre Daily, "Ferguson knife fight yields assault charges," Mike Dawson, Sept. 7, 2011