URBANA – A man who fled from a stop and struggled with police officers on Green Street Tuesday night turned out to be a sex offender who had failed to register.

Lakeith Polk, 19, of Urbana, was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of South Wright Street, Urbana, after a brief chase and a struggle with police officers. Police attempted to stop Polk on his bicycle after watching him disobey a traffic signal at the intersection of Goodwin Avenue and Green Street.

Particularly at the beginning of the school semester, police stop bicyclists who violate traffic laws to offer an explanation of the law and other safety information. Often, a bicycle enforcement stop ends with a warning.

Polk did not stop for police and continued riding along Green Street. He collided with a pedestrian as he attempted to turn into an alley to evade the officer.

The collision caused him to fall off his bicycle, and he continued to argue with police as they ordered him to stop. A physical struggle continued for several minutes as backup officers arrived. The officer who initiated the stop at one point unholstered his Taser, but he did not deploy the device.

After collecting Polk’s information, it was discovered that he had disobeyed sex offender registration laws. Polk was transported to the Champaign County Jail.