05/02/18 New Castle County, DE – Welfare Check Call – Man Jumps Into Police Car And Sped Off – High Speed – Crashed Into Pole

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A 25-year-old man was arrested after he jumped into a police car, sped off, and crashed into a pole, police said.

New Castle County police responded to a welfare check on Marcus Benson of Bear at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, after he left his home in a manner that caused concern, said Master Cpl. Michel Eckerd.

At 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, an officer saw a man matching Benson’s description walking in the shoulder of Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Del. 1 Bridge southbound lanes.

The officer pulled over and got out to search, as cars drove at a high-speed on the bridge. While doing so, he lost track of Benson in the process, Eckerd said.

As the officer was searching for him, Benson opened the driver car door of the officer’s patrol car and got in, Eckerd said.

Benson then drove down Del. 1 southbound and lost control of the police SUV crashing it into a traffic pole near the Biddle Toll Plaza, Eckerd said.

The suspect was arrested and transported to a hospital.

Benson was charged with the felony theft of a motor vehicle, felony disregard a police officers signal, misdemeanor malicious mischief by a motor vehicle, and misdemeanor reckless driving and an unsafe speed violation.