SPANISH FORT, Ala. — An irate customer was arrested while confronting individuals attempting to make a few quick bucks selling their Best Buy vouchers, and a “good Samaritan” was injured while trying to settle the dispute, Spanish Fort Police Chief David Edgar said.

In preparation for big bargains on Black Friday, some serious shoppers began setting up their place in line at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving day, Edgar said.

At approximately 3 a.m., Best Buy officials in the Eastern Shore Centre began handing out vouchers to the first people in line for special items in their store.

According to Edgar, in the “spirit of free enterprise,” some people in line attempted to sell their vouchers for a price.

James Meriwether, 27, of Wilmer, didn’t have a voucher, Edgar said. Meriwether expressed his displeasure to the people trying to sell the vouchers, Edgar said.

After a heated discussion, one unidentified “good Samaritan,” attempted to intervene to help diffuse the situation between Meriwether and those trying to sell the vouchers. Edgar did not have names for the individuals trying to sell their vouchers.

When Meriwether continued to express his displeasure, the “good Samaritan” intervened again, and he was struck in the head by Meriwether, Edgar said.

Meriwether was charged with third degree assault and transported to the Daphne city jail on a misdemeanor charge. Edgar said that he believes the victim refused transport to a medical facility.

This was the first time this sort of incident occurred on a big sale day in Spanish Fort, Edgar said. Edgar said police had been in that area just prior to the incident to keep a check on shoppers, but he says events like this rarely occur with a police presence there.

Calls made to Best Buy management media relations were not returned.