FERNDALE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A man has been arrested following the death of a person who was assaulted in Ferndale.

Court documents state that the victim, identified as 61-year-old Anthony Sperry of Kent, was working an event at the Ferndale Event Center in October.

Sperry had hired the suspect, 57-year-old Lester Payton, to help him set up and break down the space.

The two got into an argument while loading items into a work trailer. Payton then got into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and bumped into Sperry, who was trying to stop him from driving off.

When Sperry began recording him with his phone, Payton got out, smashed his phone, then slammed Sperry to the ground.

An unidentified witness in the vehicle called 911 before Payton got back inside and sped off.

Sperry was hospitalized with a broken femur and a hip injury but passed away from his injuries nearly two weeks later.

A warrant for Payton’s arrest was issued after an autopsy determined that Sperry’s death was directly caused by Payton’s assault.

Payton was taken into custody on Monday and remains at the Whatcom County Jail without bail.