A Schuylkill County man was jailed last week after allegedly attempting to disarm a police chief during a struggle inside a Mahanoy City convenience store.
Marc Benjamin, 38, of Mahanoy Plane, was arrested Oct. 8 by Mahanoy City Police Chief Thomas Rentschler following an incident Thursday at the Cocoa Hut.
Rentschler says he was on routine patrol shortly before 11 a.m. when he stopped at the store to make a purchase. While waiting in line, Rentschler recognized Benjamin, who had two active Schuylkill County bench warrants for failure to appear in court dating back to April 17.
When Rentschler informed Benjamin of the warrants, Benjamin responded, “I know I know,” and asked if he could turn himself in and be let go. Rentschler replied, “No, you never turn yourself in and we are constantly picking you up on bench warrants”. Benjamin then asked to drink his chocolate milk, which Rentschler said he could do once secured.
As Rentschler attempted to take Benjamin into custody, Benjamin allegedly pulled away, ignored commands, and slipped his jacket over his head to the front of his body. When Rentschler drew his Taser, Benjamin used his jacket as a shield. As Rentschler moved in to deliver a dry stun, Benjamin allegedly grabbed the Taser with both hands and attempted to remove it by lifting it into the air.
Rentschler says he pushed Benjamin through a display case and pinned him against a bathroom door before regaining control of the Taser and deploying a dry stun to bring him to the ground. Rentschler says he sustained an injury during the altercation. Officers from Shenandoah Police Dept. assisted by transporting Benjamin to Schuylkill County Prison while Rentschler sought medical attention.
During a search incident to arrest, officers allegedly found a glass pipe with white residue in Benjamin’s front pocket and a purple smoking device inside a black gym bag. Police also found a Ryan Township Police Dept. chief’s badge inside his wallet alongside his identification.
A store employee alerted police to a locked black plastic box near the front door that Benjamin had brought inside. After obtaining a search warrant, police used a key found on Benjamin to unlock the box. Inside, investigators reportedly discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a digital scale, a cigar torch lighter case, and 75 blue plastic bags.
Benjamin has been charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and disarming a law enforcement officer, along with misdemeanor counts of simple assault, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Benjamin was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, who set bail at $100,000. He was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Oct. 29 before Judge Kilker.
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