Employees Punched, Desks Flipped In Assault At Auto Outlet: Cops

Fredericksburg VA

20 October, 2021

2:00 PM

Description

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — Two men were arrested in Stafford County on Monday after they were accused of assaulting employees and destroying furniture at an auto outlet, according to a report from the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office claimed the men threw a "full-scale temper tantrum" after they were asked to leave the Mega Auto Outlet on Jefferson Davis Highway in Stafford. Deputies responded to the outlet at 3 p.m. on Monday to investigate the reported disturbance. A witness told authorities that four customers arrived at the business to have repairs done on a car. "When they learned the repairs could not be performed until Friday, one of them began yelling," the sheriff's office said. "An employee instructed the group to leave as they were causing a disturbance." One of the customers, who police identified as Peter Usiomwanta, did not leave. The sheriff's office claimed that Usiomwanta instead punched an employee in the face. Another customer, who police identified as Maliek Lee, flipped over desks, computers, and other furniture, authorities said. See also: 1 Dead, 3 Injured In Crash On I-95 In Spotsylvania: Police "Usiomwanta joined in the vandalism spree by throwing items and breaking furniture in a side office," the sheriff's office said. "Lee also assaulted an employee of the Auto Outlet." The two other customers pulled Lee and Usiomwanta away, and the four of them left in a grey Jeep Cherokee. Some of the auto outlet's employees reported minor injuries from the assault. A Stafford County deputy stopped the Jeep on I-95, near the 137 mile marker. Usiomwanta and Lee were arrested, police said. The men are charged with assault and battery and felony vandalism. They were taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail and held on $1,500 unsecured bonds. On Facebook, the sheriff's office said the men "emulated the Disney character Wreck-It Ralph" during the disturbance. Photo courtesy of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Have a story idea? Email me at [email protected] with tips, questions, comments, or concerns.