Police arrest wrong-way driver who allegedly pointed gun

A driver who made a left-hand turn out of Dutch Bros. into head-on traffic on John Wayne Parkway, and allegedly pointed a gun out his window at another motorist as he did it, is facing charges, according to Maricopa police.

German M. Molina was charged with Aggravated Assault, Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing A Thoroughfare, Resisting Arrest and Reckless Driving after the incident about 4:15 p.m. July 21, police said.

An officer dispatched to the scene made contact with the driver who reported the incident. The man, who was described as “shaken up and distraught,” told police he was driving south on John Wayne Parkway toward Hathaway Avenue when he observed another driver, later identified as Molina, exiting the Dutch Bros. driveway, according to a probable cause statement.

Instead of turning right, Molina turned left head-on into southbound traffic, the witness told police. As he turned in front of traffic, the witness alleged Molina had a gun with a silver slide and black body pointed out of the driver’s side window at him, the probable cause statement said.

Another witness told police she saw Molina driving through the Dutch Bros. lot at a high rate of speed, jumping both curbs separating the drive-thru lanes. That witness reported seeing Molina holding a black object and pointing it out the window and, while not sure if it was a gun, that she wanted to seek cover, police said.

Molina drove northbound in the southbound lanes to the QT parking lot, where he was contacted on foot by police. He continued to walk away from officers, eventually crossing John Wayne Parkway and forcing traffic to come to a halt, police said.

Officers attempting to take Molina into custody told him to get down on his stomach with his hands out to the side. Molina did so until instructed to put his hands behind his back in an attempt to handcuff him, the probable cause statement said.

Molina allegedly physically resisted arrest by placing his hands under his body, said police, who used force to gain compliance. He was hit three times with a Taser and with pepper spray before he was handcuffed and put in a leg restraint, police said.

Police said they found a firearm under the driver’s seat of the vehicle Molina was driving that matched the description provided by the first witness.

After positive identification by that witness, Molina was arrested and taken to a hospital for further evaluation, police said.