ST. PAUL, Minn. - A man accused of trying to disarm a police officer at Regions Hospital has now been charged in the incident.
According to criminal charges, Earl Bennett, 31, of St. Louis, MO was stopped by a St. Paul cop on May 19 for driving after dark without headlights near University Avenue and Dale Street. After the officer ran his driver's license, he discovered Bennett had a felony parole violation warrant out of St. Louis for armed robbery.
When the officer returned to Bennett's vehicle, he said, "I'm not going back to prison," then put the car in drive and fled the scene, according to the charges. A high-speed chase ensued and Bennett eventually lost the officers but crashed his car near Atwater Avenue and Sylvan Street. At that point, he fled on foot and was not located by police.
A warrant was issued for Bennett's arrest, on the charge of fleeing a police in a motor vehicle. Bennett was arrested and brought to the Ramsey County jail on May 20.
After complaining about lower back pain after saying he fell from the top bunk of his jail cell, officers took Bennett to Regions Hospital for evaluation on Thursday.
Doctors examined Bennett and determined he didn't have any injuries, so began completing discharge papers so he could be sent back to jail. That's when Bennett said he felt faint and collapsed, according to the criminal complaint.
Deputies escorted him back to a treatment room and placed him on a bed.
Charges say Bennett asked the deputy that was guarding him to help him push the medical call button as he was suffering from a headache. When the deputy came into the room to push the button, Bennett punched him in the face and grabbed his gun with both hands, trying to pull it from its holster.
A second deputy came into the room and grabbed Bennett but struggled to get his hands off the gun, according to the complaint. The deputy then grabbed his own gun, pointed it at Bennett and said three times, "Drop the gun or I'm going to shoot you." Finally, Bennett released his grip and was placed in handcuffs.
During the struggle, the hospital was put into lockdown.
St. Paul police officers arrived on scene to assist. Once the situation was under control, the deputy saw his gun was still in its holster but the magazine was missing. It was later found laying on the floor of the treatment room.
Bennett is charged with disarming a police officer, fourth-degree assault, possession of a firearm by an ineligible person and attempted escape from custody. He makes his first court appearance on Friday.
