Newington Man Charged In Bear Spray Attack Near West Hartford Tea Shop: Police: UPDATE

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A Newington man is in custody Monday after West Hartford police said he sprayed another man with pepper spray during a dispute outside a popular Asian tea shop.

According to the West Hartford Police Department, the suspect has been identified as Nicholas Maldonado, 21, of Newington. Police said he was charged with second-degree breach of peace, second-degree reckless endangerment, and second-degree assault.

Police said he was taken into custody on a $10,000 bond Sunday night.

According to the WHPD, the incident happened on the sidewalk at the plaza of 150 Shield St.

"After a verbal altercation between two adult males, one of the individuals pepper sprayed the other," wrote WHPD Capt. Aaton Affiades in a release. "The male who pepper-sprayed the other was arrested."

According to the owners of the Cha Papi shop at 159 Shield St., West Hartford, the tea and sweets shop reopened Monday morning after an extensive cleaning of the site.

Cha Papi, which opened in 2023, said in a Facebook post that an "individual attempted to attack one of our customers walking into the shop with bear spray, unprovoked."

"We are extremely unsettled by this incident, and will attempt to share more information as it becomes available," wrote Cha Papi. "Please keep our staff and customers affected by this situation in your thoughts."

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Used by outdoorsmen to fend off bears, such products can cause intense burning, swelling, and tearing in the eyes/nose, difficulty breathing, and skin irritation.

From July 10, 2023: 'Asian Style Tea And Sweets Shop Opens In West Hartford'