A city of Covington worker was allegedly chased with a knife while out marking the road on Need Street Friday.

The woman was mapping out locations on the roadway for gas lines when she noticed a black male, later identified as 59-year-old Ronald Smith, walk out of a home on Need Street.

She turned her back to the man and started walking back to her truck. When she looked behind her, Smith was reportedly” running towards her with a large knife in his hand.” The city worker took off running towards Geiger Street and stopped when she came to employees from D&J Pipe Line. When she looked back she saw that Smith had stopped chasing her and was walking back to his home.

When officers questioned Smith he allegedly admitted to chasing the woman with a knife but said “it was a misunderstanding.”

Smith was arrested and transported to the Newton County Detention Center where he was charged with probation violation and aggravated assault.