Pepper Spray Charge Could Mean Prison Time For 54-Year-Old Man: ACPD

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Police arrested a 54-year-old man that they say pepper-sprayed another man following an argument in Crystal City early Sunday morning.

Officers responded around 2:52 a.m. to the 400 block of 23rd Street South for the report of an assault with a weapon and injury.

"Upon arrival, it was determined the male suspect and male victim were outside a business when the male suspect allegedly deployed pepper spray at the male victim following a verbal dispute," according to the incident report. "The victim then struck the suspect with a stick before running away from the scene."

The officers located the suspect nearby and transported him to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries, according to police. The victim also received minor injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene.

Once the suspect, who police identified as David Lee Nelson of an undetermined address, was medically cleared, he was arrested and charged with malicious wounding by caustic substance, according to ACPD.

Nelson was arraigned Monday morning in Arlington General District Court and a preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 23. He remained in custody.

The malicious wounding by caustic substance is a felony charge that is punishable by a prison sentence of one to five years, or at the discretion of the judge or jury, a jail sentence of up to 12 months and/or a fine of up to $2,500, according to the Code of Virginia.