A man was chased through The University of Memphis by campus and city police officers Sunday night and placed in protective custody, according to Bruce Harber, director of public safety.
The individual is a black male, about 5-feet-7-inches tall with a slim build and was wearing black pants, but was not wearing a shirt.
"The officers became concerned about his well-being and placed the male into protective custody in an effort to protect him and others (including the officers)," Harber said.
Officers at the scene said the individual was chased from Patterson St., through campus and across the tracks near Southern and Echols, where officers were able to catch and secure him.
Nolan House, freshman parks and recreation major, and Tyler McDaniel, sophomore elementary education major reported seeing the man lying on his stomach in the middle of the Alumni Mall.
"He was lying on the ground like he was hiding," House said. "He jumped up when we passed him and started chanting and chasing us."
The students could not understand what he was "chanting."
The man resisted arrest and medical treatment. Officers had to forcefully take him into custody. The man spit on one officer during the struggle.
"I'm going to hell," the man said while he was on the ground kicking and spitting at officers.
One officer mentioned having some of the man's blood on him. A Memphis Fire Department ambulance was on scene, but it was unclear how bad the individual's injuries were or what caused them.
He struggled with officers as they handcuffed him and bound his feet.
He was carried face down by multiple officers into a Memphis Police Department car.
As he was being carried he yelled at the officers.
"Y'all better kill me 'cause if y'all don't, it's gonna be a..." he said ending with obscenities.
According to Harber, the incident was not a criminal matter. The man refused medical treatment and was transported to The Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The MED) for evaluation.
