By PATRICK JOHNSON

pjohnson@repub.com



SPRINGFIELD - A 45-year-old clerk at Quick Stop convenience store, 885 Carew St., was arrested tonight and charged with hitting a 10-year-old boy with a golf club in a dispute over unrolled pennies, police said.



The boy, who police did not identify, suffered bruises on his legs and back, but was not seriously hurt, said Capt. Peter J. Dillon.



The golf club, a 3-wood club, snapped in two from one of the blows, he said.



Rafig Tahir, of 170 Hampshire St., Holyoke, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a golf club.



Tahir also threatened but did not strike another child, an 11-year-old boy, Dillon said.



Dillon said the two children went into the store just before 7 p.m. and tried to purchase brownies with unrolled pennies.



Tahir refused to accept the coins, and the two children and he got into what Dillon called "a heated argument."



Tahir leaped over the counter with the golf club when one of the boys pounded on the glass door as they left the store, Dillon said.





