BLANCHESTER — A man received a broken arm as well as an assault charge after police say a verbal argument became physical.

Rodney Allen, 39, came to the police station with a broken arm early Saturday afternoon, according to Police Chief Scott Reinbolt.

”He reported his arm was broken by being struck with a pipe by Zachery Whitaker, 26, during a confrontation” in the 200 block of East Main Street, where Whitaker resides, stated Reinbolt in a news release. “An ambulance was summoned and Allen went to Clinton Memorial Hospital for treatment.”

He said Ptl. Sarah Luken called for assistance from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and went to 210 E. Main St., where she and two deputies Sheriff arrested Whitaker for assault. Whitaker was transported to the Clinton County jail.

Ptl Luken interviewed numerous witnesses Saturday afternoon.

“Information provided by those individuals indicates that Allen and Whitaker were involved in an argument in the parking lot of the Blanchester Municipal Building,” Reinbolt said. “Allen then went to Whitaker’s home, where the argument continued. Allen advanced on the home, swung a punch at Whitaker, and Whitaker struck Allen in the arm with a pipe.”

Reinbolt continued, “It would appear that steel pipes are Whitaker’s weapon of choice, as he was arrested on April 14 for criminal damaging after throwing a steel pipe at a car passing his residence.”

For the earlier incident in April, Whitaker pled no contest in Clinton County Municipal Court and was found guilty, according to the court’s website; he was fined $100 and ordered to pay criminal costs of $125.

At the conclusion of the investigation of Saturday’s incident, Allen was issued a summons for assault for attempting to cause physical harm to Whitaker, Reinbolt said.

Allen’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for May 21 in Clinton County Municipal Court.

Whitaker was also arraigned in municipal court on an assault charge for the Saturday incident with Allen; he entered a plea of not guilty.