Man arrested following death of Kent man in Ferndale

Lester Payton, 57, was arrested for the death of Anthony Sperry, 61, who died from injuries sustained in an assault in Ferndale. The incident occurred at the Ferndale Event Center, where Sperry had hired Payton to help with event setup. Their argument escalated when Payton bumped into Sperry with a vehicle and attacked him after damaging Sperry's phone. Sperry suffered a broken femur and hip injury, requiring hospitalization, but died nearly two weeks later. A warrant for Payton's arrest was issued after an autopsy determined that the assault directly caused Sperry's death.

Payton was taken into custody on Monday and is being held at Whatcom County Jail without bail. The case underscores the potential consequences of workplace conflicts escalating into violence. Law enforcement continues to investigate the incident, emphasizing community safety in the wake of such tragedies.