A Johnsonburg man reportedly injured an officer while evading arrest during “Slip Patties” in Slippery Rock, police said.

Eli Perez, 20, was charged Wednesday, April 1, by Slippery Rock police with one felony count each of aggravated assault and evading arrest and one misdemeanor count each of simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, flight and obstruction. The charges follow a March 8 incident during “Slip Patties,” a term coined by Slippery Rock University students as their St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Police were called around 4 a.m. for a large group of young men and women outside Sheetz getting ready to fight. Both Slippery Rock and Prospect police responded and encircled the group with their cruisers as they began to run.

An officer attempted to grab one of them, later identified as Perez, but he got away. Other officers also attempted to grab Perez but were unsuccessful.

During one of the attempts, an officer was knocked down by Perez and injured his knee, police said. The officer was transported by ambulance to AHN Grove City Hospital.

Other officers pursued Perez on foot, but he got away.

Police were able to speak with others in the group who knew Perez’s hometown, which is how they contacted his parents.

Perez’s preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.