2 Cal U. students face riot charges
Two California University of Pennsylvania students, one of whom is a member of the football team, are in Washington County jail on charges including riot after a disturbance early Thursday outside a California Borough bar.
Anthony William McPoyle, 21, a defensive lineman on the football team, and Shawn Tevis Barr, 20, both of Dover, Del., face several charges.
Police were called just after 1 a.m. for a report of a fight in progress at the Wood St. Bar, 222 Wood St. When borough police arrived, they were met by a crowd of about 30 people in front of the bar. While one officer interviewed several people, other officers spotted a man leaving the bar. Later identified as Barr, he started calling the police names and reportedly got the crowd to start chanting against police.
Barr was asked for identification. When he reportedly got into the face of one of the officers, she told him to back off, but he ignored her commands. When she again yelled at him, Barr reportedly stumbled back about 10 feet and started mocking the officer. He also walked backward into a Cal U. police officer, who had arrived to assist.
Police placed him in custody. He had a Delaware identification card, indicating his name was Deven Andrea Barr. While in custody, police found his university identification card with the name Shawn Tevis Barr.
McPoyle emerged from the crowd and approached officers putting Barr in a police cruiser. He was reportedly told to get back, but instead continued to charge at a California police officer. An university officer tried to stop McPoyle but he continued to move forward. Two university officers then grabbed McPoyle and tried to detain him. McPoyle allegedly resisted their efforts, police said. Police used a Taser and McPoyle fell to the ground. He reportedly continued to resist and complied only when police him they would again use the Taser. During the incident, he also reportedly spat in the face of a Cal U. police lieutenant.
While at the borough police station, McPoyle reportedly threatened to kill one of the university police officers and his family. When in the holding cell, he reportedly kept trying to use his cellphone to call his mother. When ordered to hand over his cellphone, police said he refused.
He again allegedly struggled with police as they tried to place him in handcuffs, complying, police said, only when they again threatened to use the Taser.
McPoyle is charged with riot, obstructing administration of law, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and public drunkenness. Barr is charged with riot, false identification, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and underage drinking.
“All Cal U. students, including student-athletes, are expected to abide by our student code of conduct,” university spokeswoman Christine Kindl said. “Students who violate that code will be involved in the university’s disciplinary process and held accountable for their behavior.”
McPoyle has been suspended from the football team for one game for violating team rules, an initial step while fact-finding is completed and the school’s disciplinary process begins.
Both were arraigned before District Judge David Mark and placed in jail, McPoyle on $50,000 bond and Barr on $25,000 bond. They are scheduled for preliminary hearings before District Judge Joshua Kanalis on Oct. 20.