An Atwater man was arrested for hitting a store employee with a bicycle chain after being confronted about a theft, the Turlock Police Department reported.

Jorge Pena, 38, of Atwater was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault.

The incident was reported to the police department around 4 p.m. Wednesday and occurred at the Home Depot at 2800 Countryside Drive.

The suspect allegedly stole some items from the store, but before he could leave the parking lot on a bicycle, he was confronted about the theft and handed the items back to store employees.

Pena was asked to come back into the store and it was then that he swung a bicycle chain at an employee, striking him on the back, said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Parmley.

The suspect fled on the bicycle, but his description was relayed to police officers. A plainclothes Officer in the area spotted a man matching the provided description and proceeded to follow after him.

“When officers attempted to detain the subject, he abandoned his bicycle and attempted to hide behind a trash Dumpster,” Parmley said.

The suspect was found and taken into custody.