Manchester Police Cruiser Rammed During Motel Narcotics Arrest

MANCHESTER, CT — A suspected drug dealer rammed a police cruiser in attempt to escape arrest over the weekend in Manchester, police said.

According to an incident report, at 6:08 p.m. Saturday, an officer on routine patrol observed 34-year-old Gladstone Benjamin standing near a vehicle in the parking lot of the Manchester Inn, 100 East Center St. Benjamin appeared to be engaged in a conversation that was narcotics-related with another man, according to an incident report. The man was accompanied by two children, according to an incident report.

The officer drove his cruiser in front of Benjamin's vehicle and Benjamin entered the driver's seat despite the officer's orders to stop, according to an incident report. Benjamin the accelerated forward and his vehicle collided with the police cruiser, according to an incident report.

Benjamin then exited the vehicle and ran onto East Center Street and the officer, along with a second responding officer apprehended Benjamin after a brief foot pursuit, according to an incident report.

Following Benjamin's arrest, officers seized approximately 450 wax folds containing suspected
fentanyl, along with additional quantities of purple fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana, according to an incident report.

Benjamin has been charged with criminal attempt at assault on a police officer, two
counts of risk of injury to a child, evidence tampering, second-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with police, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, heroin possession the with intent to sell, possession of crack with the intent to sell, evading responsibility and reckless driving. He was held over the weekend on a $750,000 bond and was to be arraigned at Manchester Superior Court on Monday.

No officers were injured during the incident, police said.