A Fergus Falls man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly attacking another man with a hatchet, police reported today.

Police received a call around 1:40 p.m. that Dustin Leroy Helps, 19, had struck a man in the head with a hatchet at a home on the 600 block of Laurel Street. The caller reported that Helps had fled the scene in a red van.

Just minutes later, police pulled Helps over after his van was seen heading east on the 500 block of Lincoln Avenue. He was arrested for second degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

The man who Helps allegedly attacked was taken to Lake Region Hospital, where he was treated and released. The extent of his injuries has not been released.

Police said witness interviews reported that Helps struck the man with the sharp edge of the hatchet because of a negative comment made earlier about one of Helps’ family members.

Later, police received another call that a van matching Helps’ van’s description had sped down Summit Avenue shortly after the time of the alleged assault. The caller alleged that the van’s driver reached the west end of Summit and appeared to dump something there before speeding away. Police recovered the hatchet believed to have been used in the assault at the location.