Man charged in bat assault at Hempstead deli

A Hempstead man who struck another man in the head with a metal baseball bat Sunday night during an argument that began in a deli has been charged with assault, Nassau County police said Monday.

Oscar Lopez, 35, of 217 S. Franklin Ave., and another man, 43, started to argue inside the Junior Deli, 208 S. Franklin St., in Hempstead at 8:50 p.m., police said.

Their spat moved outside, police said, and Lopez then struck the other man in the head, knocking him unconscious and causing a cut with heavy bleeding, police said.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was treated, police said.

Lopez was charged with assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He was scheduled to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.