Man accused of choking, pulling knife on ex-girlfriend in Latrobe store parking lot

A 25-year-old man is accused by Latrobe Police with choking a former girlfriend and threatening her with a knife during an argument Tuesday in the parking lot of a city convenience store.

Police arrested Cody G. Riggin, who lists his address as Republic in Fayette County, Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault, harassment, terroristic threats, simple assault, strangulation, and driving on a suspended license. He was ordered held in the Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $20,000 bail.

Officer Jason Myers said Riggin and the female victim got into a verbal argument inside a car in the parking lot of a Sheetz convenience store in Latrobe, where Riggin was borrowing money at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The victim told police that Riggin choked her during the argument, physically abused her and then ordered her to drive. Police said the victim reported Riggin pulled out a knife out and held it to her stomach when she refused to drive.

The victim told police she fled the vehicle and telephoned 911 for help.

Myers reported that the store’s surveillance video corroborated the victim’s story and showed that Riggin fled in his own vehicle and “intentionally bumped the rear of the victim’s vehicle” as he drove through the lot.