On April 18th, at approximately 8:30pm, officers with the Lafayette Police Department Street Crimes Unit encountered a male at Claystone Apartments. The male fled from officers and barricaded himself in an apartment. The male was identified as Michael Antonio Smith (23 years old and of Chicago, IL). Smith was wanted on warrants for escape and domestic battery in the presence of a child.
Smith refused to answer the door and a search warrant was obtained for the residence. After obtaining the search warrant, officers made entry into the apartment and located Smith in the attic. Smith refused to come out of the attic. Smith then broke through the soffit and crawled from the attic onto the roof. Officers attempted to negotiate Smith off the roof, but he was uncooperative. The Lafayette Fire Department was called to the scene and assisted by providing a ladder for officers to use to get onto the roof. Once on the roof, Smith refused to comply with officers and jumped to a lower level roof and then to the ground. Smith was then detained. Smith was arrested for resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief, and the two outstanding warrants.
The Lafayette Police Department asks that anyone with any further information about this investigation to please contact the Lafayette Police Department (807-1200) or call the We-Tip Hotline (800-78-CRIME).
Sergeant AJ Mellady
Street Crimes Unit
Lafayette Police Department
The fact a person(s) has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant(s) is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.