Man accused of assaulting teen girl at local mall after making derogatory cat call

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A local 22-year-old man is accused of assaulting a teenage girl at Westmoreland Mall last month.

Police say he choked the 16-year-old and slammed her to the ground. After dozens of tips, police say they have their suspect: Tyler Zidek.

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According to investigators, Zidek made a derogatory cat call to the girl as she passed him. She questioned what he said, and police said that led to the assault.

Zidek claims the girl swung at him, missed and then fell to the ground, but witnesses told police a different story.

A family that turned around because they heard the thud of her hitting the ground saw people with Zidek who were laughing when it happened.

That girl did need medical attention, and the two teen boys who were with Zidek are not facing charges from state police at this time.

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