BLANCHESTER — At 5 p.m. Monday police were called to the Kroger store at 1001 E. Cherry St. for a fight in the parking lot.

An officer responded and spoke to witnesses, according to Police Chief Scott Reinbolt, who stated a man named Jonathan Smith had been assaulted in the parking lot by Timothy Whitworth, 47, of Orchard Circle, Blanchester.

“The investigation revealed that Smith and Whitworth are neighbors, that Whitworth confronted Smith at Kroger over an alleged slight, that Smith tried to walk away and Whitworth punched Smith,” Reinbolt said. “Smith then defended himself by striking Whitworth.”

Officers were not able to locate Whitworth and have obtained a warrant for his arrest for assault, said Reinbolt.