Attempted Pepper-Spraying Results In Felony Charge For Arlington Man: Police

ARLINGTON, VA — An Arlington man involved in a fender bender is facing a malicious wounding charge after he attempted to pepper-spray another driver Monday afternoon, according to authorities.

Officers responded around 3:20 p.m. to the Arlington Boulevard at South George Mason Drive to investigate the report of an assault.

Investigators determined that the male victim and male suspect were driving in the area when the suspect rear-ended the other man's vehicle, according to the incident report.

"When the victim exited his vehicle and approached the suspect’s window, the suspect rolled down the window and attempted to pepper spray the victim before fleeing the scene," according to the report. "No injuries were reported."

Through their investigation, the officers identified the suspect as 46-year old Eduardo Soler of Arlington, according to police. After locating Soler in the 3700 block of Columbia Pike, they arrested and charged him with attempted malicious wounding by caustic substance.

Soler is scheduled to be arraigned at 2 p.m. on Thursday in Arlington General District Court, according to court records.

"If any person maliciously causes any other person bodily injury by means of any acid, lye or other caustic substance or agent or use of any explosive or fire, he shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by confinement in a state correctional facility for a period of not less than five years nor more than thirty years," according to the Code of Virginia. "If such act is done unlawfully but not maliciously, the offender shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony."