POCATELLO — A 24-year-old local man was recently arrested after police say fought with an officer while intoxicated in public.
Storme Marquis Benton, of Pocatello, has been charged with felony battery on a police officer as well as misdemeanors for resisting arrest, trespassing and being intoxicated in public, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal recently obtained.
The incident unfolded around 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 3 when a Pocatello police officer on patrol observed a man, later identified as Benton, arguing with bouncers outside of the Office Bar at 251 E. Center St, police said.
The officer overheard the bouncers telling Benton that he would not be allowed inside the bar without a valid identification card, said police, adding that Benton then walked around the alley and attempted to enter the bar through the back door.
The officer confronted Benton and explained to him several times that he was being detained and that he needed to step in front of the officer’s patrol car, according to the report.
Benton kept asking the officer what he did wrong and ultimately told the officer that he did not trust him before fleeing the scene on foot, traveling through alleyways for a few blocks before running down the middle of South First Avenue, police said.
Benton stopped running in the parking lot of the Racine Olson law firm at 201 E. Center St. and put his hands up, said police, adding that when the officer attempted to take Benton down to the ground he resisted arrest.
While resisting arrest, Benton struck the officer several times in the face with his hands and fists and pushed the officer in an attempt to keep the officer off of him, police said.
Eventually Benton was placed in handcuffs without further incident, arrested and booked inside the Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.
Benton appeared in front of 6th District Judge David Hooste for an arraignment hearing on Dec. 4, during which his bond was set at $10,000.
Benton is due back in court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing that will involve prosecutors attempting to prove there is enough evidence against him to elevate the case from the magistrate to district court level for trial.
If convicted of the felony battery on a police officer charge, Benton faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.