MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 66-year-old Missoula man has denied a misdemeanor assault charge filed after a woman reported he pepper-sprayed her after spraying her dog.

Ronald J. Pagel entered his plea Monday in Missoula County Justice Court. He was released without bond, but cannot possess pepper spray.

Prosecutors say Shenandoah Roath was hiking with her golden retriever on Oct. 26 when she heard a man telling her to call the dog. Roath says she did, but the dog didn't respond and Pagel pepper-sprayed the dog.

Roath said she threatened to report Pagel, but he wouldn't identify himself. She said he sprayed her in the face and left.

Pagel later told officers that Roath pushed him as tried to spray the dog a second time and he accidentally sprayed her. He says he fears dogs.

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