NIPPA, Ky. — Johnson County Sheriff Scott Hazelette was injured last week when a routine arrest turned violent.

Hazelette and deputies were dispatched to Hilltop Road over a complaint that a man who appeared to be under the influence was trespassing on several properties. When they got there, they found Casey Spence, 25, of Inez.

As Hazelette was placing him under arrest, the police report says Spence suddenly turned and hit the sheriff in the head several times. That caused both men to fall to the ground, and Spence allegedly got on top of the sheriff holding something in his hand that appeared to be a knife. Hazelette then used his pepper spray to get Spence off of him and place him under the arrest.

The attack left the sheriff with a gash on the side of his head. He drove himself to the hospital for treatment.

Spence was arrested for assault of a police officer, fleeing police, trespassing and resisting arrest. He remains in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, in Paintsville.