MANCHESTER, Conn. (WFSB) — A man was arrested following a suspected narcotics sale in the parking lot of the Manchester Inn on Saturday evening, according to Manchester Police.
The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Gladstone Benjamin, was observed by officers speaking with another man who had two children with him, near a vehicle on East Center Street.
An officer witnessing the interaction believed a drug deal was taking place and drove his cruiser in front of Benjamin to intervene. At that point, Benjamin reportedly jumped into his car.
When officers ordered him to stop and exit the vehicle, Benjamin instead accelerated, crashing into the police cruiser in an attempt to flee the scene.
“Benjamin then fled the vehicle on foot, running into the roadway on East Center Street,” said Lt. Nicholas Reinert. A second officer responded and helped apprehend Benjamin after a short chase.
Police said no officers were injured in the incident.
Upon searching the suspect and his vehicle, police reportedly recovered:
450 wax folds of suspected fentanyl
Additional quantities of purple fentanyl
Crack cocaine
Marijuana
Benjamin was arrested and charged accordingly. He was held on a $750,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court Monday.
