Man with long criminal history charged with assault at 7-Eleven that sent victim to hospital, police say

A man with an extensive criminal history has been charged with aggravated assault and other offenses for his alleged involvement in a robbery at a 7-Eleven on the corner of Main Street and Cannon Avenue in Lansdale on Tuesday.

According to court documents, Ronald Anthony Heitz, 32, of no fixed address, also faces charges of attempted assault, reckless endangerment of another person and trespassing. He is also accused of harassment and disturbing the peace.

Heitz remains in the Montgomery County Jail despite posting a $25,077 cash bail, which includes probation, according to court records.

On Sept. 17 at 5:01 p.m., Lansdale police responded to a 911 call at 7-Eleven, 651 W. Main St., about a fight in progress between two men, police said. En route, dispatch informed police that a man was bleeding from the head and kept losing consciousness, the criminal complaint states.

When they arrived, police encountered a man who matched the suspect's description and recognized Heitz from previous incidents, police said.

Officers found a man lying on the floor in front of the counter with a head wound who was described as semi-conscious and not conscious, police said.

The victim was taken by VMSC ambulance to Grand View Hospital for treatment, police said.

Heitz was arrested at 5:05 p.m. on suspicion of assault. According to an affidavit, he asked why he was being arrested. “Assault,” police said. “I didn't do anything, I rewound the cameras,” Heitz is said to have replied.

A witness told authorities that an argument broke out between Heitz and the victim. Heitz allegedly said, “You're lucky I don't fucking know you,” to which the victim allegedly replied, “Do it.”

According to police, Heitz hit the victim in the face, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head on the ground. The witness went outside and asked Heitz, “Why did you do that? You could have killed him.” Heitz, according to police, replied, “Nobody got that on camera.”

A second witness told police that Heitz was playing skill games in the back of the store and talked about killing someone, the complaint states. He then asked for help with a skill machine, but the victim, police said, told Heitz to wait his turn. Police said that's when Heitz got in the victim's face and threatened to “knock him the hell out” before hitting the victim.

Surveillance video footage showed Heitz talking to an employee and arguing with the victim, who had his hands behind his back. Heitz, police said, continued to argue before punching the victim.

According to police, the victim had no way to defend himself or prevent the fall due to the position of his arms.

Heitz had previously been warned for trespassing and arrested for illegally entering a 7-Eleven store, police said.

A preliminary hearing before Magistrate Judge Edward Levine is scheduled for Oct. 23 at 11 a.m.

He is currently awaiting formal arraignment in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court in connection with two separate arrests by Lansdale police in July 2024: one case involves trespassing and drug charges, the second involves drug charges and receiving stolen goods, court records show.

Heitz has a criminal history dating back to 2012 and includes convictions for violent robbery, drug possession and receiving stolen goods, and trespassing.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled from public court records.