MANCHESTER — A 34-year-old man was arrested Saturday evening after allegedly ramming a police cruiser and fleeing on foot during a suspected drug transaction at a local inn.
Gladstone Benjamin was taken into custody at approximately 6:08 p.m. near the Manchester Inn at 100 East Center Street.
An officer on routine patrol observed Benjamin standing near a vehicle in the parking lot, appearing to engage in conversation with another man who was accompanied by two children.
Based on the officer’s observations, suspected narcotics activity was taking place.
The officer positioned his cruiser in front of Benjamin’s vehicle.
Benjamin entered the driver’s seat of his car and, when instructed to stop and exit, accelerated forward and collided with the police cruiser in an attempt to flee.
Benjamin then abandoned his vehicle and ran on foot into the roadway on East Center Street.
A second responding officer assisted in apprehending Benjamin after a brief foot pursuit.
Officers seized approximately 450 wax folds containing suspected fentanyl, along with additional quantities of purple fentanyl, crack cocaine and marijuana.
Benjamin faces multiple charges including criminal attempt at assault on a police officer, two counts of risk of injury, tampering with physical evidence, reckless endangerment in the second degree, interfering with an officer, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of heroin with intent to sell, possession with intent to sell crack cocaine, evading responsibility and reckless driving.
He is being held on $750,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Manchester Superior Court on Monday.
No officers were injured during the incident.
