Sun Prairie Man Charged After Fleeing, Assault in Mankato

An 18-year-old Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, man fought with a Mankato officer on Sept. 25 and tried to escape after members of a group he was with attempted to flee from police, according to charges.

Brady Michael Pruitt faces charges of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer, obstructing legal process, underage liquor consumption, fourth-degree property damage and fleeing a peace officer on foot.

According to the complaint, on Sept. 25, law enforcement saw a group of people in Mankato. An officer noticed one person urinating on a tree and stopped to address the group. Several people in the group then tried to run away from the fully marked squad car and uniformed officer.

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Officers grabbed Pruitt by his backpack as he was closest to them and showed signs he was about to flee, including taking exaggerated steps away. Pruitt immediately tried to run but the officer held onto him and took him to the ground. The complaint states Pruitt then began fighting with the officer, dragging him along the ground in an attempt to escape after being told he was under arrest.

A violent struggle followed, the complaint says, during which Pruitt’s resistance caused the officer to suffer abrasions, strike his head on the ground and break his watch and other gear. Pruitt was ordered to stop, and the officer called for backup before performing a controlled takedown. During the arrest, another officer’s shoe was damaged.

After being taken into custody, Pruitt provided a preliminary breath test sample showing a blood alcohol concentration of .195. He was then transported to the Blue Earth County Jail and booked.

The charges allege Pruitt assaulted a peace officer causing bodily harm, interfered with law enforcement during the arrest, consumed alcohol while underage, intentionally damaged property and fled from officers on foot.

The charges were filed Sept. 28 in Blue Earth County District Court.