Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Dad's tip lead to arrest of Aiken holdup suspect

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 2:57 PM
Last updated 3:34 PM

AIKEN – Authorities have arrested an armed robbery suspect after his father recognized his surveillance photo Tuesday.

Special
Shaun Benson

Aiken Department of Public Safety charged Shaun Andrew Benson, 26, of the 2800 block of Sunshine Lane in Thomson, with armed robbery, Lt. David Turno said in a news release.

His father notified the department Tuesday night when he recognized his son in surveillance photos in the news media, Lt. Turno said.

Mr. Benson’s father made arrangements for him to turn himself at the department this morning.

Around 5 a.m. Tuesday, authorities believe Mr. Benson entered the Kangaroo Express on Whiskey Road, put a screwdriver up to the clerk’s neck and demanded money, Lt. Turno said. The victim said she gave the suspect money, and he ran from the store toward Advanced Auto Parts.

Mr. Benson is being held at the Aiken County Detention Center.

Comments

onecatfish

That has to be one hard thing to do. I feel his pain for turning in his son. It was the right thing to do.

Rolling Eyes

Amen catfish..... Dang it!

IsAmericaFree

Kudos to the father. As tough as that was, you did the right thing. If only more parents could be like that instead of thinking "Not MY son/daughter".

corgimom

Drugs destroying another family. And there are idiots that want to legalize drugs. I would do the same thing. His son wanted to hurt an innocent human being. How his heart must be aching now.

KSL

This just goes to show that there are good people who do the right thing at great sacrifice to themselves. Be very thankful.

FallingLeaves

People that want to legalize drugs are not idiots, corgimom. Many of the people that want to decriminalize illegal drug use and possession are law enforcement themselves, drug counselors, too. But I agree that the use of illegal drugs can destroy lives, families, and the father did the right thing turning his son in. This may be the only way to save his son's life, too. As long as the use and possession of mind-altering drugs remains illegal, there are a lot of addicted people that are going to be afraid to get help even though they reach the point they recognize they need it, for fear of jail. I suggest we decriminalize it, regulate it, quality control it, tax the heck out of it, so addicts will get help, like those in AA.

corgimom

Unless people plan to have the government hand out free drugs in unlimited amounts to people, then yes, they are idiots. There is no such thing as a "little" drug addiction. They addict, and addict quickly, and eventually destroy people. Addicted people go every day to rehabs and they aren't arrested, getting help does not get you arrested. Alcohol is decriminalized, quality controlled, taxed, and millions of people don't get help, and neither will the drug addicts. It usually takes years for alcohol to destroy people, it only takes a few months for drugs to destroy people. Addiction to drugs comes very, very quickly, far quicker than alcohol. An addict will use, and use, and use, and use, until they are stopped, usually by being arrested. That's what is so terrible about cocaine and meth. There's a REASON why doctors can't prescribe them except in very limited cases and under strict supervision.

Top headlines

Gasoline mistakenly put in Columbia County kerosene pump

Gasoline was mistakenly put into a kerosene pump at the Pumpkin Center convenience store near Harlem during the weekend, Columbia County Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker said in an e-mail ...
Were you Spotted?