A Columbus man was arrested over the weekend and may face federal charges after he allegedly assaulted a mail carrier.

Columbus Police Department Spokesman Sgt. Matt Harris says that officers responded to the initial call at 9:50 a.m. Saturday in the 3800 block of Camelot Lane. When they arrived, they found a 55-year-old mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service on the ground with cuts and bruises to his face.

Police spoke with the mail carrier and other witnesses at the scene. Their investigation has concluded that the postal employee was delivering mail in that area when he was approached by a dog that was acting aggressively. The mail carrier then sprayed the dog with mace. That allegedly brought out the dog’s owner, 54-year-old Anthony W. Stevens. Witnesses say that Stevens approached the mail carrier in an aggressive manner and began shouting. The men had a few words before Stevens began the alleged assault. Sgt. Harris says that Stevens struck the postal service worker in the face with a leather leash and punched him in the face several times, ultimately knocking him to the ground.

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