Benjamin Lawrence Breault, 20, Swanville, was charged Dec. 1 with one felony count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, one felony count of fourth-degree assault of a peace officer and one gross misdemeanor count of obstructing the legal process with force.
According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 30 at about 5:02 a.m., law enforcement was dispatched to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle on Balsam Road near Swanville in Morrison County.
An officer on the scene observed a vehicle on a field road with its headlights on, with the brake lights and flasher lights turning on and off.
The officer was aware of recent burglaries in the area, and so drove to the vehicle, at which point the vehicle‘s lights were turned off.
The officer activated his emergency lights, at which point the driver got out of the car, wearing what appeared to be pajama bottoms and a hooded jacket, but no shoes.
When asked for his name, the suspect said his name was Ben. He was later identified as Breault. Dispatch advised that the vehicle belonged to a female party.
Breault allegedly kept ranting and raving, getting in and out of his vehicle and would not follow commands. He then allegedly took off driving through a cornfield.
Law enforcement followed the vehicle through several cornfields with emergency lights activated. Breault pulled up to a residence and the officer instructed him to get out of the vehicle. Breault allegedly refused and rushed into the house.
When confronted inside by the officer, Breault allegedly began to physically fight with the officer, swinging at his face and kicking his leg.
Breault continued to fight with officers when escorted out of the house. One officer was hit in the head, while another suffered scrapes and bruises.
When questioned later by law enforcement, Breault allegedly admitted fleeing the officer because he was afraid he would be tased. He allegedly stated he was in the car using marijuana and went into the house because the officer “had no right” to stop him on private property.
If convicted, Breault faces up to three years and one day in prison and/or $5,000 in fines for the charge of fleeing, up to five years imprisonment and/or $10,000 in fines for the assault charge and up to one year in jail and $3,000 in fines for the gross misdemeanor.