East Freedom Man Accused of Burglary Assault

An East Freedom man is facing charges after police said he broke into a Freedom Township home and attacked a woman.

According to the charges filed by Hollidaysburg State Police, in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, Tyler A. Long, 35, entered the home of his ex-girlfriend through a back door that the victim said was locked but could be pushed open because the door doesn’t “properly lock.”

Police said the victim told them that Long entered her bedroom while she was sleeping and pulled her from the bed. The victim said Long threw her against a wall causing a large hole in the drywall. Long then allegedly took the victim’s cellphone so she couldn’t call 911 and threw her across the bed into a table resulting in an injury to the victim’s leg.

The victim told police that she was able to grab another phone and lock herself in the bathroom to call police.

Police located Long at a motorcycle shop in Martinsburg where he allegedly admitted to being at the victim’s residence and having her cellphone but denied breaking into the home and assaulting her.

Long is facing felony charges of burglary and criminal trespass along with misdemeanor counts of defiant trespass, simple assault, and theft by unlawful taking. He was arraigned by Altoona Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Jones and released on $100,000 unsecured bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18 in front of Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger.