Update, 7:34 p.m.

Penn State Athletics spokesperson Kris Peterson commented on Abdul Carter’s accusation in an email to Onward State.

“We are aware of the charges against Abdul Carter,” Peterson said. “These alleged actions do not reflect the values and standards of our program and will be addressed. We will not comment any further as this is an ongoing legal matter.”

Original Story:

Penn State football defensive end Abdul Carter was accused of simple assault and harrasment on Wednesday after a brush with a tow truck driver in March.

According to the criminal complaint, the assault took place just past midnight on Saturday, March 16. The rising junior was accused of pulling a man from his truck and throwing him to the ground. The victim sustained a non-displaced fracture line to a rib.

An employee of Half Moon Valley Towing was enforcing parking protocols at the Aspen apartment complex in College Township, Pennsylvania. The employee noticed Carter’s Dodge Challenger parked without registration and attempted to tow the vehicle. When the employee attempted to tow the vehicle, the Dodge’s alarm sounded, prompting Carter to look out his window, see the tow truck, come downstairs, and question the driver.

When Carter questioned the driver, the driver told Carter what was happening and that he could pay a fee to not have his car towed that night. Carter opted to pay the fee and returned to his room to get money. He then returned outside to question the driver further, saying that Dodge Challengers are frequently stolen, according to the affidavit.

The employee explained his role with Half Moon Valley Towing and said if Carter didn’t want his car towed, he would have to provide his name. When Carter did not do so, the employee began to finish the towing process.

According to the complaint, there is video evidence of Carter following the driver around the truck to the door. The driver told Carter to move, but Carter did not. When the driver did eventually put space between himself and Carter, he put his hand on the car’s steering wheel. At this point, video evidence showed Carter grabbing the driver and pulling him from the car. Carter then grabbed the driver around the midsection and, after several attempts, freed the driver’s grasp on the car.

The driver, according to the affidavit, tried to escape Carter’s grasp, but Carter threw him to the ground. Carter was then seen jogging back toward the truck with the driver behind him. The driver picked up a phone on the ground, thinking it was his before Carter grabbed him once again. Upon realizing the phone wasn’t his, the employee threw the phone to the ground.

Carter pinned the driver to the ground, according to the complaint. When Carter eventually let the driver up, the driver walked back toward the car only for Carter to hold him back once again. At this point, the driver’s girlfriend exited the truck and told Carter she had called 911.

After the incident, police interviewed the driver and Carter and reviewed video evidence from officers at the scene.

Last summer, the defensive end was charged with marijuana possession in his on-campus apartment.

Carter is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22, in State College. He is accused of a second-degree misdemeanor count of simple assault and a summary count of harrasment.