Motorist resists officers, pepper sprayed during drug arrest

Maricopa Police Department arrested a man accused of DUI and drug possession after a scuffle with him early Thursday morning. 

Police arrested 31-year-old Patrick A. Flowers after subduing him with pepper spray, according to a probable cause statement obtained by InMaricopa. 

At about 2:40 a.m., police observed Flowers driving eastbound on West Smith Enke Road near Province Parkway, according to the police document. Police said he was driving slower than the posted speed limit with an expired license plate tag. A records check showed Flowers’ driving privileges were revoked. 

Officers tried to stop Flowers, who allegedly kept driving until he reached North Falcon Lane and Colby Drive in Rancho El Dorado. 

Officers said they found Flowers to have dilated eyes, was sweating and acting very nervous. Police said they believed those were symptoms of using a central nervous system stimulant. 

Police told Flowers to turn off his vehicle and hand over the key, but he refused. Flowers also refused to get out of the vehicle after he was told he was under arrest, a police document shows. 

Flowers resisted officers’ attempts to get him out of the vehicle before he was pepper sprayed. Officers forced Flowers onto the pavement in the middle of the street and placed him in handcuffs, records state. 

During a search of Flowers’ vehicle, police found a baggie containing 7.2 grams of rock cocaine under the driver’s seat.  

Flowers was booked into Pinal County jail on four felony counts of aggravated DUI, resisting arrest and possessing narcotics and drug paraphernalia. He was also slapped with two misdemeanor charges of driving with a revoked license and failure to comply.  

Flowers faces more than 33 years in prison. 

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