BELMONT — A Heltonville man was arrested July 14 after he left the scene of an accident on State Road 46 West, in which he hit a mail delivery truck.

Earl Dean Mullis, 50, ran off into the woods, saying he would go to jail once police arrived, witnesses said. A K9 officer was brought to the scene near Summer’s Place Trail to track him.

The license plate on the Ford Mustang he was driving was registered to a Ford Explorer. It was removed from the road by a wrecker. While inventorying the vehicle, police reported finding drug paraphernalia and papers belonging to Mullis, the affidavit states.

Police were able to get a photo of Mullis from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles database. It was sent to Sgt. Bill Southerland, who was en route to the scene. Southerland found him on 46 West in Belmont; Mullis said he left the scene to call for help.

Lt. Mike Moore’s report said that Mullis used the phone at a Belmont business to call for a ride; he had not called police.

Mullis was taken to Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital for treatment of back pain. Once he was released from the hospital, he was booked into the Brown County jail.

He was charged July 24 with driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor; leaving the scene of an accident, a Class B misdemeanor; possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; and operating a motor vehicle with financial responsibility, a Class C misdemeanor.