Cops: Man who fell into flower pot, attacked police officer back in jail

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Authorities say a man accused of attacking a police officer who was trying to help him out of a flower pot is back behind bars.

The Charleston Police Department arrested Patrick Francis Bonner on Thursday after authorities say he failed to show up to court regarding an incident that happened in January.

On the afternoon of Jan. 29, a police officer said he saw a drunk man staggering at the Citadel Mall on 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. When the police officer and mall security spoke to the suspect, later identified as Bonner, he said he was walking to see his friend at the King Street Grill.

The officer then asked Bonner, who appeared intoxicated, to sit down on a bench so that he could call a taxi to take Bonner home.As the officer was calling a taxi service, Bonner got up and began to move towards the officer who told Bonner to sit down.

Police say Bonner then fell into a nearby flower pot.

An incident report states that as the officer attempted to help Bonner out of the flower pot, Bonner threw three punches at the officer. The officer said Bonner's punches missed him and he was able to grab Bonner by the arms and take him to the ground.

Authorities say Bonner then began kicking the officer and hit him several times in the knee area.

According to investigators, Bonner told the officer, "I will put a bullet in your head...I will come back here and kill you."

Police say as Bonner was being handcuffed, he kicked the officer several times in the leg.