MANHUNT: YPD needs your help finding stabbing suspect with history of violence… including past gun charges… [Updated]
YARMOUTH – At about 7:10pm this past Saturday evening, Yarmouth Officers surrounded a house at 18 Mars Lane. A 52-year-old man had been stabbed in the abdomen and rushed to CCH, where he was later reported in stable condition after emergency surgery…
CLICK HERE for initial HN coverage of that scene…
Police spoke with witnesses and carefully investigated… and they now have a prime suspect, a man 30 years younger than the victim!
Police are actively looking for William Benton, age 22, with a last known address of 87 Harwich Road in Mashpee.
The YPD have probable cause to arrest Benton on serious charges ranging from A&B with a Dangerous Weapon to Attempted Murder. Investigators were in the process of obtaining the necessary warrants at the time of this report…
Benton is no stranger to law enforcement, as well as HN… he has what can be described as a lengthy criminal history, which includes violence and firearm charges…
HN NOTE: Benton and the much older victim are said to be “acquaintances…” No other details on the motive or circumstances behind the stabbing at this time… Please check back for updates…
CLICK HERE for a May 10, 2014 HN story where Benton’s arrest on firearms charges was caught on camera…
WARNING: Benton should be considered armed and dangerous… do not approach, or in anyway confront this suspect… But you may help local police capture him by informing them of his whereabouts. Again, do not put yourself in harm’s way, but safely call police if possible. Please call Yarmouth Police Detectives at 508-775-0445 extension 2132… or you may also notify Yarmouth Police Dispatch at 508-775-0445 extension 0.
4/20/2015
Robert Bastille,
UPDATE 4/21/15: The following is the actual YPD press release…
THE YARMOUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
WILLIAM L. BENTON WANTED FOR SOUTH YARMOUTH STABBING
(Suspect should be Considered Armed and Dangerous)
On Saturday February 18, 2015 at approximately 7:06PM, the Yarmouth Police and Fire Departments responded to 18 Mars Lane for a reported stabbing. Yarmouth Police Department Patrol Officer Mary Gibney arrived first on the scene and found the 52-year-old victim walking in the street bleeding and holding his stomach trying to keep his intestines in place. The victim and a witness identified the suspect and advised police that he may still be armed and inside the residence.
Additional members of the Yarmouth Police and Fire Departments arrived on scene. The victim was placed in a Yarmouth Fire Department ambulance which then was moved to a safe location and the victim was subsequently transported to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis suffering life threatening injuries.
A protective perimeter was established and the numerous occupants inside the residence were ordered out. Once the scene was secured, five occupants who had been in the home were also secured. A protective sweep of the residence was conducted and the suspect not located.
All of the people who had been in the home were transported to Yarmouth Police Department Headquarters to be interviewed. Some of them had fresh blood on their clothes and bodies and had prior criminal records.
Yarmouth Police Department Detectives and Patrol Officers conducted separate interviews of each person in the home and positively identified the suspect who reportedly had stabbed the victim numerous times in the stomach area based on an argument over previously unreported threats made by the suspect while armed with a handgun.
The victim of the stabbing is currently at Cape Cod Hospital and is expected to survive.
The suspect has been identified as William L. Benton and is currently wanted by the Yarmouth Police Department for Attempted Murder and Assault and Battery while Armed with a Dangerous Weapon (knife). He is also wanted on several other outstanding default warrants for Witness Intimidation, Threats, and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. Benton has 42 prior charges in Massachusetts and many of them involve armed violent crimes including several charges of Illegal Possession of a Firearm, Assaults with a Dangerous Weapon, Threats, and Intimidation of a Witness.
Benton should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who observes Benton should call 911 immediately. Anyone with information about this crime or the location or information regarding Benton is urged to immediately contact the Yarmouth Police Department at 508.775.0445 extension 0 or Yarmouth Police Department lead investigator Detective Eric Nuss at 508.775.0445 extension 2132.
WANTED PERSON
WILLIAM L. BENTON AGE 22
White Male 5’7 Tall 145 Pounds
Black Hair and Brown Eyes
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