NATCHEZ – A local resident, whose girlfriend jumped out of his slow moving car at the Washington Post Office Friday to escape assault, was arrested after a short car chase.

Demetric C. Jones, 30, of 12 Reba Christian Road, was charged with aggravated assault, domestic violence and failure to yield to blue lights and siren.

Deputies arrested Jones shortly after 1:35 p.m., when they received a call that a woman was being assaulted at the post office, said Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell.

Deputies arrived to find a half nude woman with injuries to her face, neck and upper body, Ferrell said.

&uot;I don’t think it’s life threatening, but she was severely beaten,&uot; Ferrell said.

The 20-year-old victim told police that she voluntarily got into her boyfriend’s vehicle that morning.

But during the ride the suspect and the victim allegedly got into an argument and he began tearing off her clothes and beating her, Ferrell said.

She also told police that he then slowed down to about 10 mph in the Washington area to open his door, unlocking the other vehicle doors at the same time.

&uot;And as he slowed down there near the post office she actually jumped out of the car and ran to seek help,&uot; Ferrell said.

The suspect also got out at the location and continued the assault, Ferrell said.

The victim was unable to escape into the post office because it was closed at the time, but one witness tried to help while another witness called the sheriff’s office, Ferrell said.

After arriving at the scene deputies saw the suspect leave the scene in a 1995 black and gold suburban.

After a &uot;short, low speed&uot; chase, deputies boxed in his vehicle and he was arrested near Burger King in the 400 block of U.S. 61 North, Ferrell said.

He was charged with aggravated assault; domestic violence even though the victim was not injured with a weapon because of the severity of the injuries.

The couple has an ongoing problem with domestic violence, Ferrell said.

Jones was being held without bond Friday at the Adams County jail.

The victim was being treated at Natchez Regional Medical Center Friday evening.