PALATKA, Fla. — UPDATE: Charles Legault, 60, was arrested in connection with this incident on Friday night.
READ MORE: Man arrested after Putnam County deputy exposed to 'unknown substance' during traffic stop
A deputy was exposed to an "unknown substance" during a traffic stop in the area of Moseley Avenue and St. Johns Avenue, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.
PCSO says they are "not familiar" with the substance.
The area is blocked off as of 3:30 p.m., as officers are waiting for a hazmat team.
Amanda Hiatt works at the Budget Inn right by the scene and heard a loud noise that caused her to run outside.
"It was a loud boom. It was kind of feel the shockwaves from it because I was close enough... He removed his vest and I saw had some white stuff on it.. He looked like he was like, ‘Oh my go, get this off me' and he was coughing and that made some other people worried," said Hiatt.
Hiatt also saw the bomb squad checking out the car.
"They went to the car, but they never went in it, they never touched anything for almost two hours until hazmat and bomb squad came then checked it. I watched the robots go over and check the car. They took about two hours to do that," said Hiatt.
The hazmat team will decide if it is safe for the car to be moved.
The deputy is being evaluated and was released from the hospital.
Charges against the suspect will be decided after the investigation into the substance is complete.
Police urge the public to avoid the area.