Authorities say the mayor of a southwest Iowa community was assaulted Friday afternoon when he tried to stop a man from fleeing the scene of an accident.

Lewis Mayor Don Sanney suffered a broken nose and other, unknown head injuries during the altercation that occurred around four o’clock Friday. According to Cass County Sheriff’s officials, an unidentified 19-year-old man driving a pickup truck was following a car into Lewis. Both vehicles were traveling at a high rate of speed and went out of control in front a church on the town’s main drag. The occupants of the car fled the scene, but authorities say they know who they are, and charges may be filed upon completion of the investigation.

The driver of the pickup was attempting to get away, too, when Mayor Sanney chased him down. The Mayor says the alleged assault happened after the man in the pickup prevented him from getting out of his vehicle, then spat on him. Sanney says the man struck him on the head with his fist, resulting in a bloody nose and blood coming from his ears.

The mayor also alleges the man threatened people who gathered at the scene with a baseball bat. The Cass County Canine Unit arrested the 19-year-old and he is currently being held in jail on numerous assault and traffic-related offenses.