A lieutenant with a north Alabama police department is reportedly on leave after being charged Tuesday with pointing a gun at a man and hitting him while off-duty in December.

Lt. Max Dotson with Sheffield police is facing charges of reckless endangerment, assault, menacing and harassment in connection with the December incident in Lauderdale County, according to the charges filed against him Tuesday in the county court.

The victim allegedly suffered swelling and bruises from being hit in the mouth and nose, according to the complaint against Dotson.

Sheffield Police Chief Ricky Terry told WAAY the incident occurred in Florence while Dotson was off-duty.

Terry told the station the lieutenant is on leave pending an internal investigation.

Dotson’s attorney, Jeff Austin, told WAAY his client acted in self-defense.

“Mr. Dotson encountered someone acting inappropriately in the parking lot of a gas station and when he confronted this individual, the individual he encountered escalated the situation and Mr. Dotson defended himself,” said Austin.