ULSTER, NY — A New York man was arraigned on an assault charge stemming from a 2021 traffic stop in which police say he dragged an officer with his vehicle.
Benjamin T. Chapman, 34, of New York, was arraigned April 15 on a charge of assault in the second degree and remanded without bail to the Ulster County Jail.
According to Ulster police, an officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Chapman on March 30, 2021.
Chapman had an active outstanding warrant out of the City of Kingston Police Department.
When asked to exit the vehicle, Chapman quickly accelerated in an attempt to flee, dragging the officer and causing physical injury, police said.
Chapman evaded police for several days before fleeing to another state.
After several attempts to locate Chapman, the Ulster Police Department requested assistance from the United States Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.
On Oct. 16, 2024, law enforcement in Michigan conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Chapman was a passenger.
Chapman fled on foot and entered a nearby residence, police said.
Chapman was arrested and charged with separate weapons charges and was prosecuted federally.
Members from the Ulster Police Department and the City of Kingston Police Department traveled to a federal prison in West Virginia on April 15 and placed Chapman in custody.
The Ulster Police Department was assisted by the City of Kingston Police Department, the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the NY/NJ Port Authority and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.
