With the rough economy, debt collectors are busier than ever and police say tensions got out of control Monday when a Battle Ground man opened fire on a debt collector trying to deliver papers.

Collector Mike Parsons said it was the craziest things that has ever happened to him on or off the job. He knew Monday night's assignment was going to be a tough one but he never expected to be looking down the barrel of a shotgun.

"I like everybody and I'm just the delivery guy,” he said. Yet he takes all kinds of abuse.

Parsons is what's called a "process server." He delivers bad news from debt collectors.

“I hate to see them go through what they're going through, but we've all got to pay our bills. And if not, then I'll knock on your door,” he said.

When Parsons went to deliver court documents to a home in Battle Ground on Monday, it wasn't the first time he'd been here.

Parsons said it was the 20th delivery attempt.

"When I came back, I knew he was going to be unfriendly. I didn't think he was going to be this unfriendly,” Pason said.

He pulled up in his car and that's as far as he got. Forty-seven-year old Max Berry was waiting with a handgun, police said.

“And I thought, ‘This is the first time for that one.’ And then he raised it up and pointed it right at me,” Parsons said.

Parsons dialed 911 while Berry disappeared inside his house.

‘While I'm on the phone with 911, he comes out of his door, with a 12 gauge. He loads it like you do in the movies, you know, then pops one when I'm on the phone with 911,” Parsons said.

The round hit a tree stump.

Police arrived moments later and arrested Berry, who faces assault charges.

Berry could face several years in prison.

He had no prior criminal history.