Dent County Pursuit Ends in Two Crashes, Deputy Injured
Published 5:00 am Tuesday, July 21, 2026
A Houston man is being held without bond following a July 15 high-speed pursuit through Dent County that ended with two crashes and an injury to a sheriff’s deputy.
Bennie L. Thompson, 32, faces seven charges, including class D felony aggravated fleeing a lawful stop and class E felony driving while his license was revoked or suspended. He is also charged with five misdemeanors, including fourth-degree assault of a special victim.
According to a probable cause statement filed by Dent County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Swigert, the incident began around 2 a.m. when Swigert saw a gray passenger car without license plates traveling south on Highway 19 near Roosevelt Street.
Swigert followed the vehicle onto Truman Street and activated his emergency lights as it turned north onto Water Street. The driver allegedly failed to yield, accelerated and continued west onto Roosevelt Street.
The pursuit continued through Salem, with the vehicle allegedly running a red light at MacArthur Avenue and Highway 32 before traveling onto several county roads and Highway U.
Swigert reported that the vehicle reached 80 mph in a posted 55 mph zone on Highway U. The driver later turned north onto Highway 68, traveling at least 75 mph, before heading west onto Highway FF.
The vehicle crashed into a ditch in the 1000 block of Highway FF and rolled onto its side before coming to rest on its wheels with the engine still running.
When Sgt. Chris Robbins approached the vehicle and began issuing commands, the driver allegedly attempted to flee again. Robbins suffered a laceration to his left hand during the encounter.
Prosecutors charged Thompson with fourth-degree assault of a special victim, alleging he purposely placed Robbins in apprehension of immediate physical injury by nearly striking him with the vehicle.
The vehicle reentered Highway FF and continued west before crashing into a ditch on the north side of the roadway and becoming disabled.
The driver then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot down a nearby driveway, according to the probable cause statement. Swigert pursued him and fired two Taser cartridges. The first deployment was ineffective, while the second incapacitated the suspect.
After being taken into custody, Thompson allegedly told deputies he fled because he knew his driver’s license was suspended.
Prosecutors allege Thompson has three previous convictions for driving while revoked or suspended. The complaint also identifies him as a prior and persistent offender based on previous felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Additional charges include failure to drive on the right half of the roadway resulting in an accident, failure to register a motor vehicle, exceeding the posted speed limit and failure to obey a traffic control device. The warrant lists all seven counts.
Associate Circuit Judge Nathan Kelsaw issued an arrest warrant July 15 and ordered Thompson held without bond.
