Early Sunday morning, what began as an ordinary procedure sent university police on an armed chase after a fleeing suspect.
Before 5 a.m., university police spotted a vehicle coming through campus, and suspected from the way it was moving that the driver might be intoxicated, according to Gene McAbee, director of public safety.
Officers stopped the vehicle near the Walker A lot and tried to test the driver’s blood alcohol level using an Alcasensor device. As officers attempted to test the driver, a 20-year-old male non-student, he proceeded to lean towards one of the officers, said McAbee.
“When the officer told him to put his hands on the trunk of the car so he could pat him down, he (the driver) got ready to run,” said McAbee.
When the officer reached for the suspect, he drew a long knife from his hip and pointed it at the officer. The officer then drew his gun, and the suspect dropped the knife and began to run.
Officers chased the suspect to the front of Scott Hall, where they subdued him and he was taken into custody. No shots were fired.
“One of the officers was slightly injured in the scuffle, he pulled a muscle in his ribs,” said McAbee. “He had to go to the hospital for treatment, but he was treated and released. He’s okay.”
The man was charged with a provisional licensee violation because he was underage and under the influence of alcohol. He was also charged with resisting arrest, possession of a concealed weapon on campus, and assault on a government official.
