A former Penn State and U.S. Olympic Gymnast and Penn State gymnastics coach was arrested in Gainesville after allegedly recklessly pepper-spraying multiple people in a pet store.
According to the Gainesville Police Department Facebook page, Marshall Avener, 75, faces charges of aggravated battery, battery, and child abuse.
Witnesses said Avener approached several children in the pet store and asked if they wanted to pet his dog. When they ignored him, he allegedly made an inappropriate comment asking if they wanted to “pet him instead.”…