head wound.JPG

Sharon Ray claims she suffered this head wound when a store employee hit her with a lead pipe.

"He has a heavy bracelet because he's a Sikh," said Demple Debidin, Singh's sister. "He pushed her backwards and I think that is what happened. When she grabbed his shirt he pushed her away and I think the bracelet hit her forehead."

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A Grand Rapids store employee accused of hitting a customer over the head during an argument about a slice of pizza has been formally charged.

Mittermann Singh, 40, was arraigned Wednesday, Dec. 16, on a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery stemming from an incident at Fannie's Corner, 725 Eastern Ave. SE.

The victim, Sharon Ray, told police Singh struck her over the head three times with a lead pipe. Witnesses gave conflicting accounts about whether a pipe was involved, and investigators did not find a pipe at the scene. Ray apparently suffered minor injuries.

The city pursued the assault charge against Singh after the county prosecutor's office declined to issue charges due to a lack of evidence and varying witness accounts.

Officers responded to Fannie's Corner and arrested Singh on Oct. 1.

Police said Ray bought a piece of pizza at the store and, after finding it too stale for her liking, tried to return the uneaten portion of the food.

An argument ensued after Singh refused to refund Ray's money because she had eaten most of the pizza. A stack of candy was pushed over, the pizza was thrown and the altercation turned physical.

Ray claimed Singh hit her with a pipe. Singh said she attacked him and scratched his face after he refused to refund her money.

Singh later told police in jail that his Kara, a religious bracelet, could have caused Ray's injuries.

Singh, of Grand Rapids, is free on $100 bond.

Angie Jackson covers public safety and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email her at ajackso3@mlive.com, and follow her on Twitter.