PENNSYLVANIA — A Centre County man is facing multiple charges after police say he repeatedly followed and approached a woman on several occasions over the past year.
According to a criminal complaint, officers were dispatched around 8:30 a.m. Sunday to the 300 block of Blue Course Drive outside a Giant grocery store after receiving a report from a woman who believed she was being followed while jogging.
Police said the woman told officers she left her apartment that morning for a run and noticed a man near a CATA bus stop at the intersection of Martin Street and Park Crest Lane. The man, later identified as 32-year-old Marcus Folks, had previously approached her, according to the complaint.
The woman reported that Folks attempted to get her attention while she was running, but she had earbuds in and continued on her route. A short time later, she ran past the bus stop again and said Folks was no longer there.
The complaint states that the woman later ran south on Martin Street and turned onto Blue Course Drive. After passing the entrance to Alight State College, she turned around and saw Folks running toward her. Police said the woman ran to the Giant store and stayed inside for several minutes.
When she exited the store, the woman reportedly saw a white vehicle parked behind the building, away from the main parking area, and observed Folks inside the car. She was able to record the vehicle’s license plate before it left the area.
Investigators said the woman told police she had encountered Folks multiple times over the past year. On May 19, 2025, she reported that Folks approached her while she was walking on the Penn State campus and asked for her contact information. The woman said she ignored him and continued walking, but he allegedly followed her and repeatedly asked for her contact information while saying he wanted to exercise and play tennis with her.
According to the complaint, the woman entered an office building until Folks was no longer visible. She told police she was concerned about what he might do and worried he might learn where she lives or works.
The complaint also states that the woman encountered Folks again on July 15 while waiting for a traffic signal at the intersection of Blue Course Drive and Martin Street. She reported seeing Folks in his vehicle at the intersection and later noticed him walking toward her and asking if she remembered him.
Police said the woman continued walking and later noticed Folks following her in his vehicle while attempting to speak with her. She reportedly yelled for him to stop following and stalking her and told him she did not want to know him.
Authorities said Folks responded that he wanted to do research with her as she walked away.
Online court records show that Folks is charged with three counts of stalking for repeatedly committing acts intended to cause fear, as well as three counts of harassment by following someone in a public place.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for March 18.
