A Limestone County deputy said pepper spray had no effect on a brass-knuckle-carrying suspect who had to be tackled multiple times before a citizen helped get him cuffed, records show.

Anthony Bryan Thornton, 43, of 19399 Compton Road, Elkmont, was arrested Saturday on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, carrying brass knuckles, resisting arrest and attempting to elude, records show.

According to a report filed in Limestone County District Court by Narcotics Investigator Jamie King, Deputy Danny Craig had gone to a home at 19290 Compton Road to serve a felony arrest warrant but the accused was not home. As Craig was leaving, he saw Thornton drive up to the home. Although Thornton was not the subject of the outstanding warrant, Craig knew there were outstanding felony warrants for Thornton.

Craig began to pat down Thornton while he asked a dispatcher to confirm the warrants for Thornton were still active. However, when Craig touched one of Thornton’s pockets, he ran. Craig chased Thornton, caught him and took him to the ground.

Citizen helps deputy

While on the ground, Thornton continued to resist Craig, so the deputy sprayed him with pepper spray. Craig told King he sprayed Thornton multiple times but it “had no effect,” according to the report. Several times during the scuffle, Thornton was able to get back on his feet, and Craig had to take him to the ground multiple times. The deputy finally got assistance from a citizen who helped him cuff Thornton. When Deputy Steve Rogers arrived, he also helped detain Thornton.

While searching Thornton, Craig found a 20.2 gram bag of methamphetamine in one pocket. He also found more than $358, brass knuckles and a meth pipe, according to the report.

Narcotics investigators met Craig at the jail due to the amount of meth found and took custody of the meth and money.

King filed the report on the incident.