Saint Paul Man Facing 7 Felonies for Firing at Police During Pursuit
A dramatic police pursuit late Monday night in Saint Paul ended in the arrest of a man now facing multiple felony charges, including attempted murder.
The incident began around 11 p.m. on Jan. 13 when an officer attempted to stop a Chevrolet Impala near Central Avenue and Chatsworth Street for a traffic violation.
The driver, identified as 26-year-old Samuel Cal Flowers, of Saint Paul, fled at a high rate of speed. Another officer then located the Impala near Dale Street and Central Avenue. After a brief stop at Ravoux Street and Fuller Avenue, Flowers drove away again as backup units arrived.
The pursuit continued westbound on St. Anthony Avenue near Western Street, where Flowers allegedly began firing multiple rounds from an AR-15-style rifle at the pursuing officer. The officer reported seeing muzzle flashes and the vehicle's rear window shattering but did not return fire. Despite the chaos, no officers or civilians were injured.
The chase ended when Flowers’ vehicle crashed into a parked Chevrolet Silverado on the 800 block of Fuller Avenue. Following the collision, Flowers attempted to walk away but was quickly apprehended. Officers recovered a stolen Ruger AR-556 rifle loaded with armor-piercing rounds from the Impala, along with 14 spent shell casings inside the vehicle.
PREVIOUSLY: Shots Fired at Saint Paul Officer During Pursuit
The Ruger had a round of .223 caliber armor-piercing ammunition in its chamber and two additional armor-piercing rounds in its magazine. The rifle had been reported stolen in 2018 in Minneapolis and a subsequent search uncovered suspected fentanyl and cocaine in his possession.
Flowers was taken to Regions Hospital for evaluation after the crash. After being medically cleared, he was booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center. Charges filed against him include attempted second-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer, fleeing police, possession of a firearm by an ineligible person, possession of a stolen firearm and fifth-degree drug possession.
Saint Paul police later canvassed the area where shots were fired, discovering broken glass on St. Anthony Avenue and confirming a bullet hole in the mirror of a work truck parked nearby.
Prosecutors are seeking $10 million bail. Flowers’ initial court appearance is set for Thursday, Jan. 16.
VIDEO from the scene of the crash Monday night
Flowers has a history of violent criminal activity, including a 2017 conviction for first-degree assault. That case involved a 2016 incident in which he shot a man multiple times during a dispute. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison but released in March 2024 under intensive supervised release. Just days after his release, Flowers was charged with a weapons violation in an unrelated case.
Officers with the suspect vehicle near Fuller Ave. & Victoria St. on Monday, Jan 13, 2025. MN CRIME PHOTO
In a statement, Attorney John Choi emphasized the gravity of Flowers' actions:
“By choosing to flee police and actively shoot at them with a lethal weapon, Mr. Flowers significantly endangered the lives of our peace officers, community members who happened to be in the vicinity going about their daily lives, as well as his own. We are extremely grateful that our Saint Paul police officers responded swiftly and professionally and were able to resolve this situation without anyone getting seriously hurt, including Mr. Flowers. We will do everything in our power to hold him accountable for this egregious behavior,” -Ramsey County Attorney John Choi
Flowers’ criminal history includes convictions for violent crimes, including a gang-related drive-by shooting in 2015. He was also initially charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting during a drug-related dispute but pleaded guilty to first-degree assault as part of a plea agreement.
Anyone with additional information about the incident or events leading up to the pursuit is asked to contact Saint Paul Police at (651) 291-1111.
Officers searching for spent casings in Saint Paul on Monday, Jan 13, 2025. MN CRIME PHOTO
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