What was first considered a family dispute quickly turned into a chase on foot. One officer was nearly knocked off a three story building in the process.

Sioux Falls Police say it started about 2:30 AM on Wednesday in the area of 33rd and Norton where a man and woman were heard arguing. Spokesman Sam Clemens says Officers found some curious items and a spooked suspect when they arrived.

“When Officers got there, they saw some blood on the ground and a knife that had some blood on it. As they were at the front door somebody took off out the back door.”

Four officers chased the man to the campus of Augustana University where the subject climbed the scaffolding to the roof of the Gilbert Science Center and according to Clemens attempted a daring escape.

“When (the Officers) got to the top, one of them stayed by the scaffolding the other two started searching the roof of the building. They yelled at him to stop and (the suspect) took off at a full sprint towards that scaffolding. As he was running, he jumped in the air and ended up kicking the officer in the head and the arm.”

The officer only suffered a minor injury to his ear, but could have been knocked off the building. Clemens says the suspect was trapped by an officer outside the entrance of the scaffolding and 23 year-old Michael James Northcutt, Jr. was tased before surrendering to authorities.

Northcutt, Jr. faces charges of Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement, Fleeing Police, Resisting Arrest, Obstruction and Climbing on a Roof. Clemens says Northcutt, Jr. used the knife to inflict wounds on himself.


See Also:

More From KXRB