A man with a lengthy criminal history who left a halfway house without permission was arrested in Vernon Parish on Sunday after he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and attacked her, according to authorities.

Raymond Louis Williams, 40, of Jonesville was charged with aggressive domestic abuse battery, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling following an hours-long manhunt for him earlier that day.

Vernon Sheriff Sam Craft said the hunt for Williams began at 10:37 a.m. Sunday morning when personnel at a local hospital contacted VPSO to report a 39-year-old woman in their care had been badly beaten and that law enforcement would need to take a report regarding the matter.

Detectives responded to the hospital and learned the incident had occurred at the victim’s home in Rosepine. The victim identified Williams as the person responsible.

The victim told detectives that Williams was on parole and was a resident of a halfway house in Concordia Parish. She said that on Saturday night, Williams began texting her that he wanted to come to her residence that night.

The victim said she told Williams not to come to her residence and then fell asleep. She said she woke up during the night to find Williams in her bedroom and that he then attacked her, causing significant injuries.

“The victim was able to talk Williams into taking her for medical treatment after she promised that she would not tell anyone that he had caused her injuries. Williams drove the victim to the hospital and at the first opportunity, the victim told medical staff that her injuries had been caused by Williams,” Craft said.

VPSO deputies and Rosepine Police Chief Delbert Keel traveled to the hospital, but could not locate Williams or the victim’s vehicle on hospital property. A state-wide alert was issued for Williams and at about 4 p.m. Keel and other Rosepine Police officers observed the victim’s vehicle being driven through Rosepine.

A felony traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and Williams was taken into custody without incident, Craft said.

Williams was booked into the Vernon Jail with no bond set.

During the course of the investigation, Craft said detectives learned that Williams has 35 prior arrests, and that a substantial number of those were for violent offenses.

Craft said the victim is still undergoing medical treatment for her injuries.

“The investigation into this incident is ongoing and additional criminal charges against Williams are expected,” Craft said.