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A Washington Parish man was taken into custody Wednesday after reportedly fighting with an arresting officer, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that WPSO Deputy Jay Dupre responded to a call for assistance west of Bogalusa. Arriving at the residence, Dupre reportedly discovered the homeowner had been physically attacked by an intruder who had fled the scene. The intruder was identified as Damion J. Smith, 29, a resident of Highway 60, Haley said.

“Patrolling in the area, Sgt. Dupre encountered a person who fit the description given to him,” Haley said. “The man admitted to being Damion Smith and gave statements verifying what Sgt. Dupre had been told previously. Sgt. Dupre advised Smith he was under arrest and attempted to place Smith in handcuffs, at which time Smith pulled away, shoved Sgt. Dupre, and ran away.

“Sgt. Dupre pursued Smith on foot and caught up with him. As the two struggled, they rolled into a water-filled ditch and Smith continued to assault Sgt. Dupre until he was able to be restrained.”

Haley said that Bogalusa Police Department Officer Dillon Miller arrived to assist and transported Smith to the Bogalusa jail, where he was detained before being transferred to the Washington Parish Jail. WPSO Det. Chad Cassard responded to the residence where the assault occurred to manage the investigation.

Smith was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on charges of home invasion, domestic abuse, criminal damage to property, cruelty to a juvenile, resisting an officer by flight and resisting an officer with force.

“It is never a good thing when someone physically resists arrest,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “It is always a good thing when the officer is able to control the situation with no injuries to either party. Many thanks to Sgt. Dupre for making this arrest, Bogalusa officer Miller for assisting, and to Detective Cassard for following up with the investigation.”