LAUREL HILL — A 21-year-old man is in custody after he allegedly wielded a fillet knife to try to force a victim to have sex with him.

Michael Landis Reeves was arrested Sunday after someone called 911 to report that he was threatening to kill someone, according to his arrest report.

Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputies arrived to find a victim with a knife wound to his abdomen. The victim told deputies that Reeves had attempted to force him to have sex Saturday and Sunday.

When the victim resisted, Reeves armed himself with a 6-inch fillet knife and stabbed the victim, the report said.

The victim managed to flee to safety, but did not report the incident.

In the early morning hours Sunday, Reeves again approached the victim with an “expressed intent to have forced sexual intercourse.”

The victim defended himself from the attack with a sledge hammer and fled to a neighbor’s house, where the resident called 911.

Witnesses said Reeves continued to try to force himself into the home to get to the victim.

In addition to the abdominal wound, the victim had other lacerations and bruises, the report said. The knife was recovered and placed in evidence.

Reeves was handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car, where he lowered the window and tried to escape.

He was charged with aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, sexual battery with a weapon on a victim 12 years old or older, burglary and escape.