FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Fort Pierce man is behind bars after police say he approached an ICE protester with a chainsaw, allegedly heading straight toward a 14-year-old boy. Now, the child’s father is speaking out about the incident, and the violence he says crossed a line.

Fort Pierce Police arrested Michael Barry after a two-month search. Police say Barry turned himself in after being actively sought by investigators following the incident, which occurred in November during an ICE protest along U.S. 1.

According to police, Barry got out of his vehicle at a red light and walked toward protesters while holding a chainsaw. One of the protesters was a 14-year-old boy.

“The guy got out at the traffic light, at the red light with a chainsaw,” said Bruno Moore, the boy’s father.

Police say Barry attempted to start the chainsaw after exchanging words with protesters. When the light turned green, Barry and another man drove away from the scene.

Barry now faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse, Fort Pierce Police confirmed.

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Moore told CBS12 News he was stunned by what happened, saying verbal harassment has become something he expects at protests — but physical threats are different.

“People shout at you, they give you the finger, they do all that sort of stuff, which is fine. I mean, I think that's part of the discourse,” Moore said. “But now anybody coming out and making a physical threat, that's the first time that's happened.”

Fort Pierce Police Major Mike Santiago explained why it took two months to locate Barry.

“It took that long because this person was on the run,” Santiago said. “So, we were actively trying to locate this individual who finally turned themselves in to the St. Lucie County Jail, so we didn't find him and bring him in, but we were actively pursuing him.”

Police say Barry has had multiple prior encounters with law enforcement, including arrests involving drug possession and firearms charges.

Despite the incident, Moore says he and his son plan to continue attending protests.

“I’m not like spoon-feeding him what to think or what to do or how to feel,” Moore said. “He has done all this on his own, and I’m encouraging him to continue doing that.”

Fort Pierce Police say they are still investigating the driver of the vehicle Barry was in at the time of the incident to determine whether additional charges are warranted.

Barry remains in custody at the St. Lucie County Jail, where his bond has been set at $50,000.