Pittsburgh police charge Tarentum man in knife attack on bicyclist

A Tarentum man remained jailed Friday on a charge of attempted homicide after police said he sliced a man’s neck during a robbery in Homewood earlier this week.

John Reznickcheck, 51, attacked a man around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 900 block of Brushton Avenue as the victim rode his bicycle to a grocery store, Pittsburgh police said in a criminal complaint.

Reznickcheck jumped on the victim’s back, held a large knife to the man’s neck and demanded the man hand over everything in his pockets, according to the complaint.

After the victim gave Reznickcheck “a couple hundred dollars,” Reznickcheck “proceeded to slice (the victim’s) neck,” the complaint said.

Surveillance footage showed Reznickcheck attacking the victim from behind, retrieving what appeared to cash and running away, according to the complaint.

The attack “missed all vital components” of the victim’s body, the complaint said. First responders took the victim to an area hospital, where he was later listed in stable condition.

Police charged Reznickcheck, of the 700 block of Negley Street, with several crimes, including aggravated assault.

Prior to the attack, the victim was going with his girlfriend to a friend’s house when Reznickcheck, who they didn’t know, stopped them “just to talk,” the complaint said.

After they arrived at the friend’s house, the victim left to go to a grocery store on his bike when the attack occurred.

Reznickcheck was taken to the Allegheny County Jail and arraigned Thursday.

Bail was set at $10,000, which Reznickcheck was not able to pay, court records show.

No attorney was listed in court records.