A University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown student is in jail, facing a variety of charges after police say he got into a fight with a campus officer.
In the criminal complaint, police said it happened around 1 a.m. Sunday, when Associate Chief Eric Zangaglia came across a group of people drinking beer in a stairwell at the Living Learning Center. Most of them ran when Zangaglia approached, but the document says he was able to stop 19-year-old Matthew Sweeney III. After a brief confrontation between the two, the complaint says, things got out of hand.
According to the criminal complaint, Sweeney pushed Zangaglia into a door jam and several punches were exchanged before Sweeney picked up the officer and threw him into the stairs. The complaint says he then placed his hands around Zangaglia's neck, trying to choke him. When Zangaglia reached for his gun and threatened to shoot, Sweeney let go of the officers? neck, the complaint says. But as soon as Zangaglia put the gun back into its holster, it says Sweeney began to strike again.
Zangalia used pepper spray on Sweeney, but he was able to get away, running across campus before he was caught, the complaint says.
"The safety and welfare of our entire student and campus community are a top priority at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown," university officials said in a statement. "We maintain zero tolerance with respect to any action that threatens or causes injury to another person, and we take swift action to address any such issues."
The university says it has withdrawn Sweeney's enrollment. He's being held in the Cambria County jail with bond set at $100,000.
Zangaglia was treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released.
UPJ Student Accused Of Assaulting Campus Police Officer
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