GONZALES - A man was taken into custody Tuesday after he sent a deputy to the hospital over the weekend by hitting him with an ATV.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office says the attack happened early Sunday morning while deputies were investigating a burglary alarm in the Dutchtown Meadows neighborhood. Upon arriving, deputies spotted a man driving around recklessly on an ATV.

When they tried to stop the rider, later identified as 35-year-old Joey Joffrion,  he refused to pull over and slammed the vehicle into one of the deputies. The attacker fled the area and managed to evade authorities that day.

"It was a dramatic situation. We were answering a typical burglar alarm call, and when we were answering that we came across this fellow on the four-wheeler, tried to stop him because he was destroying property and driving reckless with the four-wheeler," Sheriff Bobby Webre said. 

Surveillance video showed the vehicle hitting the deputy head-on and launching him into the air. He was taken to a hospital and is expected to be OK.

"That was dramatic video, I spoke to the deputy and I know there is a longer clip," Webre said. "I'd like for citizens of Ascension Parish to see what those deputies go through day in and day out, not only during these challenging times but every time they put on that uniform or pin on that badge."

Witnesses said they could't believe what happened in the middle of their neighborhood.

"It was unsettling for sure," a neighbor who did not want to be identified said. "When this happens to law enforcement, you really take a step back to think how could somebody do something to anybody, let alone a police officer."

"With everything going on COVID-19, stress, families in their houses for long periods of time, there is a lot of stress now," she added.

Joffrion was arrested Tuesday after he agreed to turn himself in. He faces several charges, including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated flight from an officer.