A 46-year-old Arnold man was arrested after he was pulled over in Pevely and initially refused to get out of his vehicle. Pevely Police used pepper spray on the man, and he eventually exited the 2002 Jeep Cherokee, Chief Mark Glenn said.
The incident happened Feb. 25 when an officer spotted the Jeep on Commercial Boulevard (Hwy. 61-67). There were no registration tags on the rear license plate, so the officer stopped the vehicle in the 8600 block of Commercial Boulevard, the report said.
When officers approached the driver, he allegedly refused to identify himself and argued he did not have to register his vehicle or provide his driver’s license or proof of insurance, according to the report.
“After several minutes of arguing, the driver rolled up his windows and locked the vehicle doors,” Glenn said.
He said that after the driver refused numerous requests to open the door, officers informed him he was under arrest and told him to exit the vehicle. The driver continued to refuse and was warned officers would break the window to arrest him. Still, the driver reportedly refused to comply.
“Officers used a window punch to break the glass on the driver’s door,” Glenn said. “The officers opened the door and the driver immediately grabbed the steering wheel and refused to exit the vehicle.”
After the driver continued to resist and ignore officers’ warnings that they would use pepper spray on him, he was sprayed with “a short burst,” and the driver released the steering wheel and exited the vehicle, Glenn said.
He said the suspect was arrested and issued a summons to appear in Pevely Municipal Court.