DOUGLAS COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Douglas County are investigating a suspect after a using a taser to wrestle away a knife from him.

Just before 1 p.m. on Thursday, a police officer on routine patrol in the 200 block of W 10th Street in Lawrence observed a disturbance, according to a media release.

As the officer attempted to make contact with the three individuals involved in the disturbance, the officer observed one of the subjects was armed with a knife.

The officer gave verbal commands to drop the knife, and the subject complied. The officer learned that one of the other individuals involved in the disturbance was also allegedly armed with a knife. This suspect was non-compliant with the officer’s verbal commands. The officer attempted to physically detain this suspect, but he fled on foot.

The suspect was non-compliant with verbal commands given by the officers while brandishing the knife.

Officers used a Taser to subdue the man and were able to wrestle the knife away.

A short time later, two officers located the suspect in the 800 block of Tennessee Street. The suspect again refused verbal commands and brandished a knife as the officers approached him. One of the officers was able to move into position to use a Taser on the subject. The subject was tased after repeatedly ignoring verbal commands, and continued to resist officers after being tased. Officers were eventually able to physically wrestle the knife away from the suspect, and he was taken into custody.

The suspect, a 20-year-old Lawrence man was arrested and transported to an area hospital to be medically cleared per department policy following a Taser exposure.

The other two individuals involved in the incident, a man and a woman were interviewed and released. They were not injured in the incident.