PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, Ont. -- A 23-year-old man is facing multiple charges and recovering from frostbite after being arrested by police who chased him through snow-covered fields in Prince Edward County.

Provincial police say officers went to a home Wednesday in Bloomfield, a village south of Belleville, to investigate an assault complaint involving an injury to a two-year-old child and alleged assaults on the child's mother.

It's alleged that moments before the officers arrived, a male suspect exited the rear of the house and fled on foot across snow-covered farmer's fields.

Officers followed the suspect's tracks in the snow while police cruisers, a canine unit and an emergency response team joined in the search in Bloomfield and the surrounding area.

Police say the man was found two hours later in a wooded area several kilometres west of Bloomfield, and was arrested and taken to hospital to be treated for frostbite to his feet and hands.

The man -- who is not being identified in order to protect the alleged victims -- is charged with assault, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, mischief, breach of recognizance and three counts of breach of probation.