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HICKORY, N.C. -- You might say a Newton man felt the wrath of God in a Hardee's drive-thru after police said he was assaulted with a cane by a Hickory pastor.

Santos Ruiz Jr., 34, of Newton, was driving a Dodge Ram truck on South N.C. 127 when a Mazda Miata driven by Roger Darrell Lee, 59, of Vale, stopped abruptly in front of him, Chrystal Dieter with the Hickory Police Department said.

Lee is the pastor of Church of the Nazarene at 3404 South N.C. 127, according to police reports. Messages left on Lee and the church's voice mail were not returned as of Wednesday evening.

According to police, Ruiz drove around Lee's car and pulled into the Hardee's at 3020 South N.C. 127. Lee followed him into the parking lot, got out of his car, separated his walking cane into two pieces and began striking Ruiz through the truck's window, Dieter said.

Ruiz spoke out Wednesday afternoon and said he caught the first blow with his hand. He then pushed the cane back at Lee. Then, Ruiz said, Lee drove the other end of the cane, fashioned with a knife, into his thigh. Ruiz said the knife punctured his outer thigh and drove through to the front of his leg.

However, Dieter said the wound on Ruiz's leg was not confirmed as part of the Tuesday assault.