MADISON, Wis. -- A Dane County sheriff's deputy was released from the hospital on Saturday night after being struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Steven Green, 44, of Madison. The Dane County Sheriff's Office said he has a lengthy criminal record. Green is being held in the Dane County Jail on a probabtion violation while the investigation continues. Authorities said further charges are pending.

"This was an individual who tried to run down a deputy sheriff who was in uniform operating a marked squad car who had every right to stop him for the traffic violation," said Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney. "And so in an attempt to protect himself, and others in the community, here was a person who tried to run down an uniformed police officer. What they were potentially capable of out in the community was of great concern."

At about 7:10 p.m. Saturday, the deputy attempted to stop Green's vehicle in the 2900 block of Hoard Street in Madison for driving without a license plate.

As the deputy approached the vehicle, Green attempted to flee and struck the deputy, according to Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney.

The deputy then fired twice at the vehicle, shattering the windshield. Authorities said the deputy fired those shots because he feared for his safety.

A neighbor who lives near said he heard the shots.

"I wasn't quite sure what it was, we went outside to look," said Art Hackett of Madison. "There were two Dane County sheriff's deputies in the parking lot. One was doing deep knee bends like he had the wind knocked out of him or something."

According to Mahoney, Green was then stopped by a Madison police officer but got out of the car and tried to flee on foot.

An officer then caught Green a few blocks away on Myrtle Street.

The deputy was released from a Madison hospital Saturday night after receiving scrapes and bruises from the incident.

The deputy, a 10-year veteran, has been placed on paid administrative leave as the internal investigation continues into the shots he fired at the fleeing vehicle.

This is normal protocol in a deputy-involved shooting situation, said Mahoney.

The deputy's partner, a five-year veteran, has also been placed on paid adminstrative leave, following the agency's Critical Incident policy.

The names of the two deputies will not be released at this time.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.