A 34-year-old Topeka man was arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of seven crimes, including criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and assault on a law enforcement officer after a late-night foot chase and tussle with a Lawrence police officer.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, an officer attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Durrell Scott Thomas near the intersection of Sixth Street and Lawrence Avenue after witnessing “suspicious behavior” near a business in the area, Lawrence Police Department spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said.

Upon noticing the police car, the vehicle turned onto Lawrence Avenue and accelerated as the officer followed, McKinley said. The driver turned onto Princeton Boulevard, lost control of the vehicle and struck a median, McKinley said.

Thomas and another male occupant of the vehicle ran away in different directions and the officer pursued Thomas, ordering him to stop, McKinley said.

Thomas complied and lay down on the ground, but “quickly jumped up” and fled again, McKinley said, leading the officer behind nearby houses, where he again got on the ground.

As the officer approached and attempted to handcuff Thomas, the suspect moved and attempted to strike the officer in the head, McKinley said. Thomas missed the officer and as he turned to prepared for a second attempt, the officer tased Thomas, McKinley said. McKinley said the taser did not stop Thomas and he again ran away.

Thomas was stopped soon after when two other officers arrived in the area and assisted in taking him into custody.

Thomas was arrested on suspicion of fleeing and eluding law enforcement, assault on a law enforcement officer, obstruction of legal process, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, driving while being a habitual violator and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also had an outstanding local warrant and an out of county warrant.

Officers were unable to locate Thomas’ passenger, McKinley said.

Thomas is being held in the Douglas County Jail without bond.