Police: Murrysville Sheetz workers credited with stopping assault

Two employees at Sheetz in Murrysville are credited with pinning a man to the ground after he assaulted and choked a woman in the store parking lot, police said.

The suspect, Cyle J. Reed, 23, of Altoona, was subdued by workers who held him on the ground outside the store along the eastbound lanes of Route 22 about 11:24 p.m. Sunday, Murrysville officer Anthony Talamo said. When officers arrived, they were able to handcuff Reed and took him into custody.

Witnesses told investigators that Reed was striking and choking the woman in the parking lot and was “banging his head off the car” the couple had parked. The woman was able to break free and ran into the store, but Reed followed her inside, “bear hugged her” and carried her back outside, according to court documents.

Employees attempted to stop the assault, but Reed pushed one worker away, police said. A second worker eventually was able to get Reed on the ground and two employees held him there until officers arrived.

The woman had red marks and swelling around her face and neck, Talamo said.

Reed was taken to AHN Forbes Hospital in Monroeville for treatment.

He was arraigned Monday on charges of disorderly conduct, harassment, simple assault and strangulation. He was ordered held in the county prison without bond by Export District Judge Charles R. Conway, who said he believed Reed is a danger to the community. A preliminary hearing is scheduled April 12.

Reed did not have an attorney listed in court documents.

Sheetz did not return inquiries seeking comment.

According to online dockets, Reed was sentenced to two years of probation last year in Blair County after pleading guilty to obstruction of law enforcement and resisting arrest in connection with a Jan. 1, 2020, incident in Altoona. He received another two-year probation sentence in 2021 after pleading guilty to assault and strangulation charges, also filed by Altoona police.