Pottawatomie County, Okla. — A fugitive who led law enforcement on a brief but intense chase in Pottawatomie County is now behind bars after voluntarily surrendering, citing the cold weather as his reason for giving up.
The pursuit began late Monday when a Pottawatomie County deputy attempted to pull over 27-year-old Michael Benham after he ran a stop sign. According to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Johnson initiated the chase, but things quickly escalated when Benham reversed his vehicle and struck the deputy’s car.
In body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office, the deputy can be heard reacting to the collision, shouting, “F***! He just smacked my vehicle!” He later mentions, “My shoulder is sore,” as a result of the impact. Despite the setback, the pursuit continued briefly before Benham lost control of his vehicle, driving off the road, abandoning the truck, and fleeing on foot.
“The vehicle came off the trailer,” said Justin Wood, with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. “The vehicle and the trailer and the vehicle in the back there were all stolen.” Wood added that after the crash, Benham ran into nearby woods, prompting a large-scale search operation.
Multiple agencies from surrounding counties, including Cleveland County, the District Attorney’s Office, and Lincoln County, assisted in the manhunt, deploying drones and K-9 units to track Benham. Despite an exhaustive search, the fugitive evaded capture until the following day.
In an unexpected turn, Benham surrendered to authorities, reportedly due to the frigid temperatures. Authorities did not disclose the exact location of his surrender, but he was taken into custody without further incident.
Benham now faces multiple charges, including fleeing from law enforcement, assaulting a police officer, and possession of stolen property. The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office praised the coordinated efforts of all agencies involved in the pursuit and search for the suspect.
