Rock Hill police: Man pepper sprayed past employee who wanted pay

A man told Rock Hill police he was doused with pepper spray by his former employer after he demanded about $80 in pay that was owed him, a report said.

Police responded to 851 S. Heckle Blvd., Rock Hill, at about 3:45 p.m. Thursday after they were called by EMS workers to assist with an assault.

The victim told police his previous employer, identified as 50-year-old David Wendell Coker, “owed him money and would not pay him approximately $80 that was owed,” the report said.

The victim told police Coker “pepper sprayed him because he would not leave,” the report said.

Coker said the victim approached him in the parking lot and “would not allow him to leave,” the report said. Coker said the victim “was standing in front of his vehicle demanding his money.”

Coker said he told the victim that he did not have the money and the victim “stated he was not leaving until he got paid,” the report said. Coker said he told the victim to move away from his vehicle because he had pepper spray, and the victim said: “Then spray me.”

Coker sprayed the victim and ran into the Jack in the Box store, and a passerby called EMS, while Coker called police, the report said.

Coker told police that he “had the right to defend himself,” but an officer told Coker that “this was not a legal use of pepper spray,” the report said.

Coker was charged with third-degree assault and battery and was taken to the Rock Hill Law Center, the report said.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Rock Hill police: Man pepper sprayed past employee who wanted pay."