A 37-year-old man is facing several criminal charges after striking a Turlock Police Officer while being placed under arrest, the Turlock Police Department reported.

The officer was not seriously injured in the incident.

Around 10 p.m. Tuesday the police department received a report of a suspicious individual walking around with bolt cutters in the 300 block of Crane Avenue.

An officer searching the area spotted a man matching the description of the individual. The man, later identified as Robert Cortez, 37, was found hiding behind a closed business in the area.

A check revealed Cortez was in violation of his parole and the officer attempted to take him into custody, which is when Cortez allegedly punched the officer in the face.

Cortez attempted to flee the scene, but was quickly apprehended. He continued to struggle with officers, prompting them to use a Taser, according to the police report.

Cortez was booked into Stanislaus County Jail on charges of battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest and for a parole violation.