Hammer fight breaks out between coworkers in Dollar General parking lot

By OLIVIA BERGEMEIR
Lead Reporter - Salina Post

A hammer fight broke out between two Salina residents early Wednesday morning after a dispute on the job site.

Salina Police Department (SPD) Capt. James Feldman said around 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, at the Dollar General at 840 East Crawford Street, a witness reported two men fighting with hammers in the parking lot.

"During the course of investigations, they had contact with Christian Dionicio-Reyes, a 36-year-old male of Salina and Cristobal Lopez-Ramirez, a 46-year-old male of Salina," Feldman said. "It was determined that the two had been at a worksite in the 2600 block of East Crawford where the altercation started."

Feldman said after the altercation became heated, Dionicio-Reyes allegedly swung a hammer at Lopez-Ramirez, causing management to send them away from the job site.

As both men left the work site, they followed each other to the nearby Dollar General parking lot to continue the conflict.

"Christian (Dionicio-Reyes) is the first to enter the parking lot. He gets out of his car as Cristobal (Lopez-Ramirez) enters the parking lot. Christian then goes to the trunk of his vehicle, retrieves a hammer, and goes toward Cristobal, who's seated in his vehicle," Feldman said. "Christian then starts hitting at Cristobal as Cristobal exits his vehicle. Cristobal then retrieves a hammer from the back of his car."

Feldman said Dionicio-Reyes dropped his cell phone on the ground, which Lopez-Ramirez then smashed with his hammer.

Once the two had enough swinging hammers at each other, they attempted to leave the parking lot as SPD officers arrived.

Lopez-Ramirez told officers that Dionicio-Reyes struck him in the arm several times, which he first refused treatment but was taken to Salina Regional Health Center for light medical attention.

SPD officers then arrested both and requested charges against Dionicio-Reyes for aggravated battery and requested charges against Lopez-Ramirez for aggravated assault and felony damage to property.