Witness Stops Man Accused Of Attacking Woman At NW OKC Gas Station

Police say a man driving by a northwest Oklahoma City gas station rushed to help when he saw a homeless man allegedly beating and attempting to choke a station employee.

A woman went to the Circle K gas station on Penn near N.W. 39th Street just after midnight Saturday. As she tried to put gas in her car, a transient identified as 51-year-old Edward Starling ran up to her, and began yelling at her and threatening to beat her.

The woman grabbed a club from her car and ran into the gas station. The clerk said Starling often came to the store, and offered to come outside with the customer so Starling wouldn't bother her.

As both women stood outside, Starling ran up to them and began yelling he was going to beat them. The employee grabbed the club from the customer and told Starling he needed to leave. The customer said that's when Starling approached the worker and punched her in the face and head.

The employee fell to the ground, and Starling continued the attack. The customer said he climbed on top of the gas station employee and pushed the club against her neck.

A man driving by saw the assault. He pulled his car into the gas station and pulled Starling off of the victim. The witness held Starling until police arrived to arrest him.

Police booked Starling into the Oklahoma County jail on complaints of assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.