THEPITTSBURGHCHANNEL

A fan attending a Pittsburgh Penguins game -- a federal agent -- is accused of attacking another fan during the game at Mellon Arena.

Chiropractor Brian Novak alleges that Daniel Snyder, of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, choked him almost to the point of unconsciousness during a May 21 Stanley Cup Playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes, WTAE Channel 4's Shannon Perrine reported.

The DEA agent faces an assault charge for allegedly attacking the man in Section C. According to a police report, Novak and his wife, Kristen, were watching the game when Kristen tried to get her husband to stand up so Snyder could get by.

When Brian Novak said "What?" to his wife, Snyder thought he was confronting him and the two men exchanged words, the report indicated. Snyder then allegedly told Brian Novak, "I will kill you" using an expletive.

Police saw red marks on Brian Novak's neck, which Novak told police that Snyder grabbed him by his throat and began choking him, saying he was bent over backwards, he could not breathe and he started to lose consciousness.

According to the police report, Kristen Novak pulled on Snyder's ear, stopping the attack.

When a uniformed Pittsburgh police officer asked to talk to Snyder, tapping him on the arm, Snyder said, 'Get your hands off me and don't touch me,'" according to the police report.

The officer handcuffed Snyder and escorted him to the arena's security area. Police claimed Snyder was upset that the officer would arrest another member of law enforcement and embarrass him by handcuffing him at the game.

Snyder told Perrine by phone on Tuesday that he still has his job at the DEA and he can't comment on the case.

WTAE Channel 4 Action News also has a call into the DEA's Pittsburgh office seeking comment, which was not returned by the 11 p.m. broadcast.

Snyder faces a hearing on Thursday on the assault charge.

Comments (4)

ramorgan: ... Probably had a few too many beers and he was watching hockey, of course. What a douche. 1 July 02, 2009 djewell: ... NOT ENOUGH INFO TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS HERE. 2 July 02, 2009 missile: ... so ramorgan, just because one watches hockey doesn't make them assholes, of course. what a stupid remark. i get so tired of that crap. yep, blame it on the hockey game, not on the jerk that probably had too many beers. apparently you are not a fan of hockey? therefore your concedered one of the ignorant ones. learn it or shut up. 3 July 03, 2009 Bull: ... OK so the DEA agent saw the guy trying to swallow some pills and was attempting to stop him by choking him. 4 July 05, 2009

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