Charleston police: Man attacked officer who helped him after drunken fall

A 32-year-old man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he punched at, kicked and threatened to kill the Charleston police officer who helped him after his drunken fall into a flowerpot.

Patrick Francis Bonner of Harbor Pointe Drive in Mount Pleasant faces counts of assaulting a police officer, making threats and disorderly conduct. A magistrate set his bail on the three charges at $1,824.

About 5:30 p.m., Charleston Police Department Officer A.J. Powell was working an off-duty job at the Citadel Mall on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard when he and a security guard saw Bonner staggering toward the King Street Grill.

Bonner told the authorities that he was heading to the West Ashley restaurant to meet a friend.

But as he walked with the officer, Bonner’s steps were unsteady. He smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes, Powell stated in an incident report.

Powell asked Bonner to sit down and to wait as a taxi was called. But Bonner stood and soon fell into a nearby flowerpot, Powell wrote.

As Powell helped him, Bonner threw three punches at the officer but missed, according to the report. Powell took Bonner to the ground, but Bonner kicked him, the report stated.

As he flailed, Bonner cursed and shouted racial epithets at Powell, who is black, the police said.

“I will put a bullet in your head,” Bonner said, according to the report. “I will come back here and kill you. ... I hate you.”

Bonner was handcuffed, but he continued to kick the officer, the report stated. He was later treated at a hospital for the injuries he suffered in the scuffle, then he was jailed.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede.