Penn State Riot Cost Nearly $200K In Damages

The statistics are out on the most destructive Happy Valley riot in 15 years, thanks to ace reporter Sara Ganim of the Patriot-News, and it's not a pretty picture.

Around 10 p.m. on Nov. 9, just after fabled football coach Joe Paterno was fired, students at Penn State University took to the the streets to show their displeasure. The undergrads were furious with the school's board of trustees decision to let Paterno go after 46 years as head football coach of the Nittany Lions.

The school made the move after former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged with over 40 counts of sexual child abuse, and two Penn State faculty members were accused of lying to a grand jury about the case.

A total of 38 people have been charged for taking part in the uprising. Of those nabbed by law enforcement, 92.1 percent were students. Eight are dealing with felony riot charges, while the others face misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct or summary public drunkenness, according to Ganim.

Pretty much everyone charged was called out by members of the community. Police received online tips featuring still photographs of suspects. In addition, detectives used search warrants for video of the disturbance from local TV stations.

Property damage is estimated to be close to $190,000 -- most of that from the TV news satellite truck which was dumped on its side. That dollar figure doesn't include the 725 hours of overtime State College police have registered because of the entire scandal. In all, Pennsylvania taxpayers will be spending more than $47,000 to cover the costs.

Penn State rioters tipped over WTAJ's news van