A Butler man who was asked to extinguish a recreational fire early Monday, April 29, was later arrested by city police and flooded a holding cell, according to charging documents.

John J. Spencer, 29, was charged with felonies aggravated assault and institutional vandalism and misdemeanors resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct and summary public drunkenness after police said they were called to West Diamond Street for a city ordinance violation.

Police said wood pallets were being burned on Spencer’s property around 1:15 a.m. despite a city ordinance stating there can be no recreational burning after midnight. Spencer showed signs of intoxication including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, according to documents.

Spencer eventually extinguished the fire under the supervision of Butler City Bureau of Fire, police said, and units returned into service.

Police said 15 minutes later, Spencer made a series of calls to 911. Documents showed Spencer made 11 calls over a span of three hours, continuously swearing at dispatchers or police officers before disconnecting.

Police and dispatchers tried to explain the burning ordinance to Spencer during each of the calls, officers said.

Eventually, police said they returned to Spencer’s residence to arrest him for obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.

Documents showed Spencer resisted officers attempts to place him in a patrol vehicle and was forcibly placed in and later removed from the back seat.

Police said Spencer spit in an officer’s face while being secured in a holding cell, and later stuffed items down the toilet, causing a flood.

According to documents, the water traveled through the cell and booking area at the station, and Spencer had to be moved.

Police said as he was being secured in another cell, Spencer kicked flooded toilet water onto police. Spencer also urinated throughout the new holding cell as charges were prepared by police, documents showed.

Spencer’s preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.