CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater police officers arrested a man on Saturday after he attacked a police officer.

• Robert Joseph Phillips arrested in Clearwater after he attacked a police officer
• Phillips caused hundreds of dollars of damage to interview room
• He was booked into Pinellas County Jail on multiple charges

Robert Joseph Phillips, 25, was arrested on multiple charges on Island Estates after what started as a suspicious person call. According to the police, Phillips was seen walking along a sea wall behind condominiums and tampering with multiple items of private property.

Phillips resisted arrest when he was approached by an officer. The two tumbled to the ground and Phillips tried reaching for the officer's gun and punched the officer in the face multiple times. He fled the scene but was caught by other officers in the area.

The officer was taken to the hospital where he was treated and later released. 

At the police station, Phillips caused hundreds of dollars of damage to an interview room, according to investigators.

Eventually, he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on multiple charges: two counts of criminal mischief, resisting arrest with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, depriving an officer means of protection/communication, resisting arrest without violence, possession of paraphernalia and possession of cocaine.