AN AMERICAN national was arrested and detained for alarm and scandal offense in Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte province, the police reported Monday.

Melvin John Leonhardt, 55, an American national temporarily residing at Pudilo Apartment in the village of Estaka, Dipolog City, was arrested around 8 p.m. Saturday in Dipolog City Boulevard.

Before his arrest, the police said that Leonhardt attacked Godofredo Uy, 64, who was about to step out of his vehicle.

Uy was able to evade Leonhardt, who resisted when Senior Police Officer 1 Harvel Vidad and PO1 Klint John Cuenca pacified them.

The American national was later taken to the police station and detained.