A Bogalusa man was arrested Monday on charges of aggravated domestic violence battery and second-degree attempted murder, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that the arrest of Michael James Hortman, 51, of Callendar Road in Bogalusa, resulted from a 911 call. As the WPSO dispatcher was receiving the call from a woman in obvious distress, the telephone line was disconnected from the caller’s end, Haley said.

Patrol deputies responded to the residence and could not locate anyone there. Haley said that deputies were later able to locate the victim at the Bogalusa Police Department.

Deputies learned that Hortman had used a pistol to strike the victim in the head, striking her so hard as to leave an impression, Haley said.

The victim said that Hortman was making threats of death and violence towards her. At one point, he allegedly aimed the pistol at her head and pulled the trigger. When the weapon didn’t discharge, he reloaded the pistol and fired several rounds inside the residence, the victim said.

Haley said that the victim was able to flee the residence, at which time she drove to the BPD. Hortman, meanwhile, fled to McComb, Miss., where he was located and arrested by the McComb Police Department, Haley said.

Hortman was returned to Washington Parish and placed in the Washington Parish Jail, where he is being held with no bond set at this time.

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal bluntly stated his disdain at what had occurred.

“This was a totally inexcusable event,” Seal said. “No man is ever justified in abusing his wife, or anyone else, in such a manner. There is only one place for a man who would do such a despicable thing, and that place is jail. I am so pleased that the victim is safe and that our officers responded and handled this situation so quickly.”