A food cart employee in Battery Park sprayed his boss's eyes with hot sauce, then punched him in the face before stealing $200, police said. View Full Caption Battery Conservancy

FINANCIAL DISTRICT — A food cart employee sprayed his boss's eyes with hot sauce, then punched him in the face — before stealing $200, police said.

Police said the two men, who work at a cart in Battery Park, had an argument over money and as the fight escalated, the worker squirted hot sauce into his 35-year-old employer's eyes, then punched him in the face.

The tussle broke out at about noon on Nov. 4, police said. The alleged assailant, Zean King, 34, grabbed $200 out of the cart's cash drawer, police said.

According to a police report, King said he was owed money by the employer.

King was charged with third-degree robbery. He was released without bail, but was issued a temporary restraining order, according to court documents.

King's Legal Aid attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

The cart owner could not immediately be reached for comment.

King is due back in court on Feb. 17.