Atascadero police arrested a man Thursday on suspicion of felony assault after they say he sprayed a teen with bear repellent.

Police say, just after 8 a.m., officers responded to the intersection of West Mall and Lewis Avenue for a report of a stabbing.

Once on scene, they determined that it wasn't a stabbing. Instead, a 16-year-old boy was reportedly suffering from exposure to a pepper spray-type substance.

Police say two 9-year-old children who were in the area at the time of the incident were also exposed to the substance and were treated by the nurse at a nearby school.

Investigators identified the suspect as Paul Bicente Vasquez, 18. He was reportedly arrested later that afternoon at a home in the 7700 block of Navajoa Avenue.

Vasquez was booked into the San Luis Obispo County J

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