Man allegedly strikes co-worker with rod over missing popsicle

BERLIN HEIGHTS – A 57-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly struck his co-worker several times with a rod over a dispute about a missing popsicle.

According to the report from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, on the morning of July 21, police were called to Elite Industrial Controls for a report of an assault between two employees. When police arrived, according to the report, the complainant told police that Dale Ezell had entered the workshop with a stick and struck another employee in the head. The complainant claimed that he then fired Ezell and ordered him off the property, the report states.

The employee who was stuck was transported to Fisher-Titus Medical Center for a laceration on his left ear. At the hospital, according to the report, he told police that Ezell confronted him over a missing popsicle and before he could respond, struck him with a rod.

Police arrested Ezell at his Milan house. At his house, according to the report, he admitted that he struck his co-worker with a rod, but said he “didn’t want to hurt him or kill him.” He added that he did it after several food items, including popsicles, he put in the employee refrigerator were stolen, the report states.

Ezell was charged with assault, a first-degree misdemeanor.