A Tiverton man faces charges of assaulting a police officer and other felonies, after he allegedly shot a gel-like substance at a Middletown police officer Sunday, July 3.

Jordan Moniz, 29, of 905 Stafford Road, Tiverton, was charged Sunday with discharge of a firearm, assault on a police officer, felony assault by the use of a device similar to a firearm, and felony conspiracy. He was one of two men arrested in the assault; the other, Raymond Camacho, 29, of 366 Metacom Ave. in Warren, was charged with driving under the influence, discharge of a firearm, assault on a police officer, felony assault by the use of a device similar to a firearm, and felony conspiracy.

The arrests came after a Middletown police officer on a traffic stop on West Main Road was struck in the face and neck with gel projectiles fired from a "splat gel gun" by a passing car. The incident occurred just before 1:30 a.m.

Police said that after being struck, the officer chased the car and radioed in a description as he attempted to catch up with it. He caught up to the car a short time later and arrested the pair without incident. A splat gel gun was recovered from inside the car.

Moniz was arraigned Sunday, July 3 in Newport County District Court and released after posting $40,000 bail with surety. Camacho was arraigned the same day and held at the ACI as a Rhode Island Superior Court violator.

The officer was treated and released from Newport Hospital.

Police said the shooting is consistent with the social media TikTok "Orbeez Challenge," which police said "encourages people to shoot gel pellets at strangers."