Hunter
09/29/25
An area transient was arrested Sunday afternoon after allegedly assaulting an employee during a burglary and causing damage to equipment at the Waterfront HyVee.
The incident occurred during the 4pm hour at the store. 38-year-old Christopher Garrett entered HyVee and approached the customer service desk. He then allegedly walked behind the counter and confronted a store employee, demanding all the money from the store. Garrett reportedly then refused to leave the store.
An arriving police officer was allegedly told by Garret that they would have to make him leave. Garrett approached the officer and raised his arm in an assaultive manner. A fight ensued, and the officer was punched in the face multiple times. Garrett then reportedly grabbed the officer by the neck, squeezing on the trachea causing pain and breathing issues. During the assault, Garrett grabbed a computer from the counter and threw it at officers, causing it to stop working.
The assault ended when the officer pushed Garrett over the counter. He was taken into custody with a taser deployment.
Garrett was charged with 2nd degree Burglary, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations with intent to restrict airflow, interference with official acts causing bodily injury, tresspass with injury, and 3rd degree Criminal Mischief. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.