An Oklahoma man has been hit with a misdemeanor assault charge after allegedly hurling a cupcake from a car and striking another driver in the face, police say.
Trevor Pearson, 31, of Lexington, was set to appear in Garvin County District Court this week after the victim decided to press charges against him, the Pauls Valley Democrat newspaper reported. The incident reportedly occurred close to the town of Paoli back on May 19.
In an affidavit obtained by the local newspaper, a woman who was driving the car Pearson was in at the time said another driver "flipped her off" while passing her vehicle northbound on Highway 145. Traffic had been slowing as it convened into one lane, the witness said.
Authorities say Pearson hurled the cupcake from the woman's moving vehicle, making contact with the driver of the second car. The victim was not injured but decided to press for legal action. The identities of the victim and female driver were not immediately available.
In the state, assault does not require physical contact between the culprit and the victim, according to a fact sheet published online by the Law Firm of Oklahoma.
"A simple disagreement can lead to misdemeanor or felony criminal charges if an argument devolves into threats or violence," the criminal defense team explains. "On its own, assault is a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, However typically, assault and battery are charged in conjunction. At its lowest level, misdemeanor assault and battery is punishable by a maximum jail term of 90 days and a fine of up to $1,000."
It's not the first time a weaponized food item has resulted in a person's arrest.
In May, a Florida woman was arrested after being accused of hurling a coconut at a man who allegedly filmed her outside of a strip club. Police said Shonta Latasha Bolds, 36, was left facing a single felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
The same month, a Florida man was arrested for allegedly assaulting his partner by slapping her with a cheeseburger and kicking her down a flight of stairs. He was charged with battery.
In March, a male McDonald's employee, 21, working for a store in Indiana, was charged with misdemeanor battery after allegedly hitting an 18-year-old female co-worker in the face with a cheeseburger because she was working too slowly.
The fast-food store's manager confirmed the incident and said the victim had not been seriously injured. The suspect was handed a court summons. "It's not something we would put anyone in jail for," Police Lt. John Kovach said at the time.
