Police: Man assaults co-worker after Facebook photo, loses job

One man lost his job and another man was sent to the hospital following an assault sparked by a Facebook photo.

A 23-year-old man and his 24-year-old brother, both of Dayton, said they were on break Friday morning when they spotted a jet ski that had just been purchased by their co-worker and friend in the parking lot of Quality Quarts Engineering, 131 Janney Road in Dayton. The older brother sat on the watercraft while the younger brother snapped a picture and posted it to his Facebook page, according to a Dayton police report.

The younger brother posted the photo with the caption: “About to hit them waves with (co-worker).” He told police he tagged the co-worker in social media post because he thought he would find it funny. However, he apparently was not amused. Among comments exchanged between the two men was a post from the co-worker: “Why don’t you guys leave (expletive) that’s not yours alone? Or do I need to heel toe stomp on some roofs of cars?” according to the police report.

When the brothers came out into the parking lot for an afternoon break around 2 p.m. Friday, they said the jet ski owner pounded on the hood of their pickup truck and during an argument, he punched the younger brother one time in the left eye. The older brother took him to a local hospital, where X-rays showed his orbital bone was broken in three places and would require follow up with a surgeon, the report stated.

The victim said he later learned his co-worker was fired after management reviewed surveillance video from the incident in the parking lot. The case has been referred to detectives to investigate but no charges have been filed.

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