A BYU student was injured Wednesday from a run-in with a reckless rollerblader.

Around 10:30, James Norlem, 23, a junior majoring in Theater and Media Arts, from Omaha, Neb., was walking down Wilkinson Way, heading toward the Tanner Building on a work errand, when he saw a male on rollerblades, said university police information specialist, Greg Barber.

"My husband and I don't like seeing people on campus blatantly disobeying rules and laws," said James' wife, Casey Norlem, 22, a junior majoring in pre-home economics, from Farmington, N.M.

James Norlem approached the man to inform him that rollerblading is not allowed on campus.

"James, out of courtesy, told him it was against the law to save him from a $300 fine," Casey Norlem said.

When the man responded rudely to Norlem and proceeded to leave, Norlem ran after the man and grabbed his backpack. The skater then did a 360 on his blades, and pushed Norlem, throwing him to the ground, said Casey Norlem. The skater fled the scene and not been identified.

Eyewitness Saia Uluave, 22, a sophomore majoring in pre-management, from Provo, Utah County, was sitting on the west side of the Bookstore when the incident occurred. He said he did not think the rollerblader caused Norlem's fall.

Norlem broke his femur and chipped a part of his knee, Casey Norlem said.

She said because of the type of break, Norlem will have to undergo surgery and have pins placed in his bone, after which he will be in a lower-body cast for several weeks. She also said he will not be fully recovered for five to six months.

"It makes me angry that one student decides to not follow the rules and my husband decides to do something about it and now he's going to be in pain and out of function for months," she said.

James Norlem said in the future, he will not try to follow rule-breakers, but rather just get a better description and turn them in later.

"Any citizen has the right, when they see a crime occurring, to apprehend or detain the person and turn them over to law enforcement so they can be dealt with appropriately," Barber said.

If the suspect is apprehended, he will be cited in court for a minor offense, similar to a speeding ticket, Barber said.

Casey Norlem said she thinks it is pathetic that a student would purposely break a law, and furthermore, that he did not care that he injured her husband.

"I'm pretty angry," she said. "But most importantly, I just want my husband to get better soon."

James Norlem described the suspect as a white male, age 21 to 25, about 5' 11", with short, dark hair, sporting a blue shirt, jeans, and a narrow, black backpack.

Presently, police have not named any suspects in the case. Anyone with information should contact the police department.