BEAUMONT — A 30-year-old man is facing felony assault charges after police said he punched a postal worker in the face in Beaumont on Friday.

The U.S. postal carrier called Beaumont police at 10:05 a.m. saying he had been assaulted while delivering mail in the area of Pittsburg and East Lucas.

The carrier was in his postal vehicle at the corner of Lucas and Cleveland when the suspect, identified as Ron Cooper, walked up to the vehicle and punched the worker once in the face, according to a press release from the Beaumont Police Department.

The man reportedly walked away without saying anything to the postal carrier, who is a 42-year veteran employee of the postal service. The driver kept control of his vehicle, called 911 and followed the suspect.

Officers arrived in the area and took the man into custody without incident.

The man reportedly gave no reason for striking the postal carrier and refused to give a statement.

Cooper was arrested for third degree assault and brought to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility.

The U.S. Post Master and BPD ID techs responded to the scene.