ONALASKA – A pursuit that began on Sunday morning near Warren ended on Monday afternoon in Polk County.
According to Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford, deputies with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling in the south end of the county and attempted to execute a traffic stop on Brian Dean Benton, a 46-year-old Warren man.
Weatherford said Benton, who was driving a Kia Soul along US 69, south of Warren, continued at a high rate of speed once the deputies activated lights, and turned onto several roads, and a driveway, in an attempt to evade the deputies.
When Benton turned back to the highway, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed, while attempted to execute another turn, Weatherford said, which created a large debris field and dust cloud. When deputies arrived at the vehicle, it was unoccupied, and they saw no signs of Benton near the crash site. The deputies did discover the man’s wallet and cellphone, which affirmed his identity.
A witness also verified that Benton had left a nearby residence a few hours earlier in the Kia Soul, and although deputies with TCSO and the Ivanhoe and Woodville police departments searched for him through the night, they were unable to locate him.
On Monday morning, Benton was seen in the area near Warren ISD, and deputies had learned of a stolen ATV. Steven Hoke, who is police chief at Warren ISD, saw him driving the ATV, and began pursuit, northbound on US 69. As Benton got near a construction zone, he drove through a wooded area, and absconded from the ATV, and from the officer in pursuit.
Warren ISD initiated a secure lockout as a precautionary measure, and the school district put out a bulletin to residents of the area.
Later that afternoon, the pursuit ended in Onalaska, when officers with the Onalaska Police Department arrested him.
Deputies went to Polk County to pick up Benton, and transported him to the Tyler County Jail, where he was arraigned the next morning by Pct. 1 Justice of the Peace Tina Self. His combined bond on the charges of two felony evading arrest charges; criminal trespass and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle total $215,000.
"I want to thank the citizens in the Warren area for their support and information provided that led to the ultimate arrest of Benton," Weatherford said. He also thanked the Warren ISD Police Department and staff of Warren ISD, as well as the Onalaska Police Department for cooperation and assistance.
