A 29-year-old Salina woman was arrested Monday following a physical altercation in the parking lot of a Dollar General store that allegedly involved pepper spray and endangered a 5-year-old child.
Police responded to reports of a disturbance at the Dollar General located at 2000 S. 9th Street at approximately 12:00 p.m. on July 29, 2025. Multiple witnesses had called authorities about the incident, though both parties had left the scene before officers arrived.
According to police reports, the altercation began inside the store between a 39-year-old Salina man, who was with a 5-year-old male relative, and Courtney Vaughns, 29, of Salina. The man told police that a verbal argument started in the store and continued into the parking lot.
The victim reported that Vaughns began physically striking him. In response, he took vehicle keys from Vaughns and placed the child in the vehicle while she continued the assault, according to the police report. As the man attempted to leave with the child, Vaughns allegedly sprayed pepper spray into the vehicle, affecting both the adult and the 5-year-old.
The man declined medical treatment when offered by emergency medical services.
Officers later located Vaughns in the 1800 block of S. 9th Street and took her into custody. She was booked into the Saline County Jail on multiple charges, including two counts of domestic battery, two counts of battery, endangering a child, and interference with law enforcement.
