An Austin man was arrested for felony burglary, false imprisonment and assault after allegedly holding a couple at knife point Wednesday night.

The suspect, age 18, allegedly held Paul Nielsen, 67, and Darlene Reed, 63, after the couple came home from visiting friends to find him in the home at 912 12th Ave. S.E.

Officers were called to the residence at around 9:14 p.m. after the suspect left the home and the couple fled to a neighbors house across the street.

Police, a Mower County deputy and Minnesota state trooper joined in the search for the suspect.

According to the complaint, Nielsen said they came home to find the suspect standing in the dining room and confronted him. Then according to Nielsen, the man held a knife to Nelsen’s throat for 10-15 minutes.

Nielsen stated he believes the suspect has been the subject who has broken into the home three times in the last six months.

After talking to the couple, a perimeter was set up and deputy Jeff Ellis with K9 partner Tazer began to track the subject who reportedly fled south from the home.

The state trooper then located a subject matching the description of the suspect at Eighth Street and Eighth Avenue Southeast. One of the victims was taken to the scene and identified the subject at that time and he was taken into custody without incident.

According to the report, the suspect, while holding the couple, threatened to kill them. According to the report the knife came from the home and the suspect put the knife away in the kitchen before leaving.

There were no signs of forced entry at the home and Nielsen stated that he believes the suspect stole a house key on an earlier burglary and that is how he gained entrance.

Inside the home, officers found a bedroom and office area was in disarray and that some file cabinets had been rummaged through. It is also believed a wallet was stolen.