A pepper-spray melee sent two people to the hospital and two more to the police station, police said.
Stoughton police arrived at Meineke Car Care in Stoughton, Mass., at 6:15 p.m., Thursday, February 15, to find a “chaotic scene,” according to the police report, where several people were coughing, showed trouble breathing and displayed bloodshot eyes.
“I got sprayed, I got sprayed,” shouted one man, according to police.
Police learned a scuffle began when Dion Augustin, of Holbrook, and Isiah King, of Brockton, arrived at the Meineke shop to pick up their Bentley.
When employees refused to let the pair test drive the vehicle without an employee in the car, Augustin reportedly became physical and sprayed two employees in the face with pepper spray.
Both Augustin and King were arrested, then arraigned Friday in Stoughton District Court.
Augustin, 21, was charged with three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and was also found in possession of a stun gun during his police booking.
King, 19, charged with interfering with a police investigation and disturbing the peace.
Both Meineke employees were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital by ambulance.
Police first responded to the scene after receiving two dropped 911 calls from the location and a third call from a neighbor reporting some type of altercation. Officer Joe DeSousa said in his police report that when he first neared the Meineke building, his throat became irritated and started burning.
Witnesses told police the incident began when Augustin and King said they wished to road test their Bentley (which was in the shop for repairs) before paying. Employees said the test would require an employee in the vehicle, and an argument began.
One Meineke employee then closed the garage door to prevent Augustin from taking the vehicle, police said. A second employee then said he was going to call the police, at which point Augustin “grabbed a can from his waist area and sprayed (the employee) in the face.”
Augustin then sprayed the other employee in the face, and also contaminated a third employee, police said.
Augustin’s arrest also comes two days after another incident where he reportedly pepper-sprayed a woman in Canton, according to court documents. Last Tuesday, Augustin met a woman on Dan Road. After an argument, the woman said he pepper sprayed her.
Augustin was also arrested in Brockton Jan. 10 after refusing to leave Lynch’s Towing. He was charged with trespassing, disturbing the peace and threatening to commit a crime.
He will appear in Stoughton District Court on March 19.
This story, by Joe Pelletier, first appeared on stoughton.wickedlocal.com
