SANTA BARBARA, Calif .– Santa Barbara Police arrested a man on Sunday for causing trouble in downtown Santa Barbara.

At around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Santa Barbara Police responded to reports that a man had lit items on fire in the middle of the State Street temporary promenade area.

Police contacted employees at a company located on the 1200 block of State Street, where they also said the man was circling the block looking at cars parked along intersections.

As she searched for the man, a woman reported to the police and told them that a man was following her into the area. Police said the woman’s description of the man matched the reported suspect.

Officers later located the suspect who fled on foot to State Street.

After the chase, the suspect stopped and turned to one of the officers and attempted to hit him with a large rock. The officer avoided the blow.

The police were able to detain and assess him.

Police identified the suspect as Diego Hernandez-Mendez, 34, from Santa Barbara.

He was then taken into police custody.

Hernandez-Mendez was arrested on charges of violence to deter arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, under the influence of a controlled substance and probation violations.

He was incarcerated in the Santa Barbara County Jail.