ALBION – A Columbia City man has been arrested for allegedly attempting to escape from a police vehicle.
Riley D. Benson, 32, 286 N. Columbia Parkway, Columbia City, is charged with escape, a level 5 felony; and two counts of intimidation, both level 6 felonies.
On Dec. 13, deputies with the Noble County Sheriff’s Office were notified that Benson had been threatening a person, stating he would be “on his way” to her home with a full can of gas to “burn her house and everything in it.” After this, Benson sent a video of him driving down a road to the person’s home. When officers caught up with Benson, they found an empty gas can, three fuel accelerants, and a funnel in his vehicle.
Benson was in the rear passenger seat of the officer’s patrol vehicle, secured and placed into equally spaced wrist restraints. Benson was being transported to Noble County jail for an intimidation charge against the victim. Benson unbuckled his seat belt, turned his backside to the passenger door, and was able to reach up to open the door to the patrol vehicle. Benson threatened the officer, stating that “you’re lucky these cuffs are on because I’d f**k you up.”…