A man who drove his car onto a display ramp at a local car dealership was arrested after the car caught fire and he punched a man trying to save him.

Statesboro Police Commander J. R. Holloway said Johnny Paul Finch, 59, Rocky Ford Road, Portal, was "off his medication" when he decided to drive his green Ford Explorer onto an empty display rack at Franklin Chevrolet Thursday afternoon.

When Finch drove off the end of the display ramp, his front tires left the ramp and the car dropped onto the ramp, landing on its undercarriage. Somehow, a small fire ignited, Holloway said.

When a Franklin Chevrolet employee tried to help Finch from the car, Finch punched him, causing a laceration to the nose, possibly from the victim's glasses, he said. Unidentified first responders at the scene, making calls over the radio, said Finch refused to exit the vehicle and kept saying it was "his car."

Statesboro Police, Statesboro Firefighters, and Bulloch County Sheriff's deputies arrived to assist in taking
Finch to safety as well as extinguish the fire. Other than the man who was punched in the face, no one was injured, he said.

Franklin Chevrolet employees used the company wrecker to remove the car from the ramp. Finch was charged with battery, criminal trespass, and obstruction. He was taken to the Bulloch County Jail to await further court proceedings.

Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.