A State College man has accused the owner of a local bar of assaulting him during a dispute outside the bar earlier this week. The bar owner denies that he committed an assault, but says that any injuries suffered by the man were not inflicted purposely. State College police have yet to file any criminal charges in connection with the alleged incident.

According to media reports, the dispute began just after midnight when the man reportedly came to the bar and stood outside the patio area, leaning over a railing and drinking beer that his friends, who were on the patio, had purchased from the bar. The owner reportedly came outside and asked the man to stop drinking outside the bar. The owner then walked away.

When the man refused to stop drinking, the owner went back over to him and attempted to take the drink away. The owner says that the man pushed him, and that the two engaged in a "brief shoving match." This resulted in both men losing their balance and the man fell to the ground. He reportedly then left the scene.

At the time, the bar owner says, the man did not complain of an injury. However, the man told police that he sought medical treatment for a possible concussion at Mount Nittany Medical Center.

Although this seems like a minor event, assault charges could spell serious trouble for the bar owner. An assault conviction often results in significant criminal penalties, such as jail time and monetary fines, even when the incident giving rise to that conviction did not result in a lasting injury.

Source: Centre Daily Times, "Man alleges he was assaulted by bar owner," Matt Carroll, May 3, 2012