Dykeman
A 21-year-old city man is behind bars after he allegedly pistol whipped a male victim over an unpaid drug debt and attempted to flee from police, injuring one officer in the struggle.
Tristan Alan Dykeman was arraigned Friday morning before Magisterial District Judge Paula M. Aigner in two cases related to the Thursday afternoon incident. In the first case, Dykeman is charged with felony criminal attempt robbery and felony aggravated assault. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm and simple assault, along with a summary charge of harassment.
In the second case, for Dykeman’s actions when police served an arrest warrant on him at 3:07 a.m. Friday, Dykeman faces two felony charges each of aggravated assault-attempts to cause serious bodily injury to designated individuals and aggravated assault-fear of imminent serious bodily injury designated individuals, one felony charge each of possession of a firearm with altered manufacturer number, carrying a firearm without a license, flight to avoid apprehension, escape and possession with attempt to deliver, along with four misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and single misdemeanor charges of possession of a firearm prohibited and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail was set at $150,000 in each case, and he was remanded to the Blair County Prison. His preliminary hearings are set for Nov. 2 before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.
According to Altoona police, officers were dispatched about 4:25 p.m. Thursday to 800 Chestnut Avenue for a distraught male who was pistol whipped.
Police said Dykeman confronted the victim over an unpaid drug debt by holding a gun against his stomach and demanding money. Dykeman then struck the victim with a handgun on the left side of his face, police reported. The victim was able to run to a nearby business and police were called to the scene.
The victim told police he had owed Dykeman and another man $500 for about a month and had been threatened with a gun about two weeks ago over the unpaid drug debt.
Police obtained a felony robbery warrant for Dykeman and he was located just after 3 a.m. Friday, returning to his residence on the 100 block of Bell Avenue.
When confronted by police, Dykeman jumped off his motorcycle and fled on foot, leading officers on a brief chase before he was tackled.
Dykeman immediately put his hands under himself and toward his waistband. After a struggle with officers, where Dykeman continued to reach for his waistband, police used a Taser to take him into custody, court documents state.
Once cuffed, a loaded .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun fell to the ground from Dykeman’s waistband. Police said the gun contained one chambered round and 10 rounds were in the magazine.
Also found on Dykeman was a backpack and fanny pack. In the fanny pack, police found a gold digital scale with white residue, seven empty bags and three small bags containing a clear rock substance that appeared to be THC “butter.” A wad of copper wire and a plastic container that was converted into a smoking device with a glass pipe was found in the backpack.
According to the Altoona Police Department’s Facebook page, Dykeman was treated at UPMC Altoona for injuries sustained during his apprehension. An Altoona Police officer was also treated at UPMC Altoona and released.
