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A second city man has been taken into custody for his alleged part in a June 2024 assault that left a man with skull fractures, spinal injuries and dentures embedded in his gums.
Dylyn Evans, 20, was arraigned July 25 by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on felony counts of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, as well as misdemeanor counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and theft.
Unable to post $100,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison, where he awaits a preliminary hearing in front of Jones on Wednesday.
The case stems from a robbery and assault reported about 2:28 a.m. on June 4, 2024. Police arrived at a residence along the 1500 block of 16th Avenue to speak with the victim, who they noted to have "very obvious" injuries to the face and head, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The victim told officers he was walking up 13th Avenue, toward the Booker T. Washington basketball courts, to bring vehicle parts to his cousin's place. A group of two females and four males, who had been lingering near the playground's pavilion, then began yelling and making their way over to him, the police report stated.
The victim said the group demanded his bag, which he handed over, and then demanded his cellphone. Rather than give up his phone, the victim fled in the direction of his cousin's residence, and was struck in the head with "an object." He said that was the last thing he truly remembered and, when he woke up, he was bleeding and his phone was gone. The victim then walked back to his residence, where his wife called the police, the report stated.
The victim was transported to UPMC Altoona, where emergency room staff found he had suffered "numerous" facial and skull fractures; a left eye orbital blowout fracture; two neck vertebrae injuries to the "C2" and "C3," which became "bulging discs"; and air pockets forming around his brain. The victim told officers he also suffered pieces of his dentures embedding into his gums, bruising on his left shoulder and a hairline fracture along the right side of his jaw. His status was later upgraded to a "trauma," and he was flown to Pittsburgh for more intensive treatment, the report states.
While at UPMC Altoona, police were notified that other officers encountered seven individuals at the Gospel Hill Park at 14th Street and 15th Avenue. Three juveniles were detained, while four individuals fled. In reviewing an officer's body cam footage, which showed the juveniles, identified as AP, LP and DH, officers found they were wearing clothing that matched descriptions given by the victim, according to the affidavit.
AP reported to the Altoona Police Department with her parents to provide a statement. She said LP told the boys to beat up the victim when they saw him walking up the street. AP told officers she stayed by the pavilion and saw the boys start hitting the victim. AP's mother said the incident was recorded and AP could be heard telling everyone to stop, the report states.
Officers also spoke with DH and his mother. He told officers he was at Booker T. with AP, LP, Tyler Ray Brown, 20, Evans and another individual. DH told officers the group was drinking alcohol when they saw the victim and someone said to rob them.
The group ran over, but DH said he fell in the grass and passed out from the alcohol. When DH woke up, the victim was already on the ground and he didn't know who did what to him, according to the complaint.
DH's mother then gave officers a copy of the video mentioned by AP's mother. The video appeared to be recorded by LP and showed the victim on the ground surrounded by other individuals.
Only their feet were visible and one person punched the victim while he was unconscious. AP can be heard yelling at them to stop, the report states.
On Aug. 14, 2024, officers created three separate photo line-ups for the victim, with one containing a picture of Brown, another of Evans and the third of one of the juveniles. The victim positively identified Evans as one of the people who attacked him, the report states.
Brown was arraigned in the case on July 17 and is facing identical charges to Evans. He is being held at the Blair County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail and is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Evans's case was inactive at the time of Brown's arrest and arraignment. It is unclear how he came to be in police custody.