On March 6, 2026, at approximately 6:59 A.M., Saint Paul Police Sgt. Lee was conducting a proactive visit at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts (SPCPA), 16 5th Street West, Saint Paul, County of Ramsey. Recently, SPCPA staff contacted police about safety concerns within the building as a result of criminal and unsanitary behaviors from unknown individuals. During the visit, Sgt. Lee observed a male-later identified as JON MICHAEL FLOWERS, [DOB REDACTED]-sleeping on the floor in the vestibule area of the entry door.
FLOWERS had personal property and trash littered on the floor next to him. Sgt. Lee approached FLOWERS and identified self as police. FLOWERS woke up and was advised the contact was for him loitering and sleeping in the entryway of the building. FLOWERS was told to remain lying down while identifying self. He said he did not have identification on him, and said his name is “Christopher.” Although FLOWERS was told not to stand, he did and refused to identify himself. FLOWERS was told to face away, but he became agitated and faced Sgt.
Lee. Sgt. Lee grabbed FLOWERS’s arms and turned him around so his back was to Sgt. Lee. FLOWERS refused to put his hands behind his back. He spun around, grabbed Sgt. Lee’s forearms, squeezed, and pushed Sgt. Lee backwards. Sgt. Lee tried to gain control of FLOWERS, but he continued to shove him backwards. FLOWERS attempted to shoulder-check Sgt. Lee causing his body worn camera to fall out. The struggle between Sgt. Lee and FLOWERS pushed the doors open and continued in the doorway. FLOWERS was able to shove Sgt.
Lee partially out of the door and onto the sidewalk. As Sgt. Lee was trying to take FLOWERS down, FLOWERS pulled him down, causing Sgt. Lee’s knees to smash onto the sidewalk. FLOWERS went backwards and landed on the left side of his body on the sidewalk. Sgt. Lee experienced sharp pain to both of his knees. Other officers arrived to assist and FLOWERS was handcuffed. Medics were called for FLOWERS who was breathing, but was unresponsive. He was transported to Regions Hospital and was later discharged.
FLOWERS had felony warrants for his arrest. Officers located a green mushroom toy with a clear crystal-like substance inside and a blue jar with a yellow colored substance inside on the ground next to where FLOWERS’s body was. A small clear bag with a brown powdery substance was also located. A small bag was located in FLOWERS’s right inner jacket pocket. Sgt. Lee’s right knee hurt and had abrasions. Officer Ator responded to Sgt. Lee’s call. Officer Ator observed FLOWERS pulled Sgt. Lee down to the ground, causing Sgt.
Lee’s knees to hit the ground with force. Officer Gallatin conducted presumptive tests on suspected drugs. Item #1, blue jar with suspected yellow narcotic inside, result positive THC, inconclusive fentanyl or methamphetamine, net weight 1.51 grams. Item #2, green toy mushroom with clear crystal, result positive methamphetamine, net weight.10 grams Item #3, labeled small bag with brown powder, result positive fentanyl, net weight.
