Scuffle with police leads to charges

RUSSELLVILLE — A 23-year-old man, who was accused of firing shots outside of Taco Bell in late April, now faces felony charges including making a terrorist threat.

Police officers responded to a call just before 6 p.m. Wednesday about an alleged intoxicated man who was quickly moving around residences and threatening people in the area of Park Boulevard and Pierce Street, according to Police Chief Chris Hargett.

Patrol officers located the person, who then fled on foot.

After a two-block pursuit, police attempted to take the man into custody. But then the suspect, who was identified as Benjamin Herche Jr., began to fight back, Hargett said.

During the scuffle, officers located a firearm in the waistband of Herche’s pants. They were able to disarm Herche and take him into custody.

Hargett said some of the officers received “a few bumps and bruises,” but did not need medical attention.

Herche was charged with three counts of second-degree assault and one count each of second-degree making a terrorist threat, public intoxication, attempting to elude law enforcement, resisting arrest, and certain persons forbidden to carry firearms.

Herche was booked into the Franklin County Jail, where he remains without bond.

Hargett said the incident at the Taco Bell on April 30 appeared to be a road rage incident involving Herche, who allegedly cut in front of another vehicle while leaving a bank.

The car followed Herche to Taco Bell, where Herche allegedly pulled out a gun and fired it into the air.

Hargett said Herche was arrested and charged withmisdemeanorcounts of menacing, reckless endangerment, discharging a firearm inside the city limits, and having an open container of alcohol inside a vehicle.