Clearwater police said the man sprayed the victim with pepper spray before fleeing on a kayak to a nearby island.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Police say a man tried to escape arrest by fleeing in a kayak to an island near the Seminole Boat Ramp.

Police say William Dibello, 31, got into an argument with another man near the Seminole Boat Ramp along Clearwater Harbor. During the argument, Dibello sprayed the man with pepper spray, officers say.

Witnesses told police Dibello was getting "irate" over who owned two kayaks. Police said before officers arrived, Dibello fled on a kayak to a nearby island. Then when police arrived, officers said he left the island in a separate kayak to avoid arrest.

Dibello was arrested on a simple battery charge.

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