Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Yesterday, Duard Augustus Benton III, aged 58, was taken into custody after he allegedly threatened a Walmart Loss Prevention Officer with a knife for trying to stop his shoplifting attempt. Benton also reportedly pointed the knife at a police officer who was attempting to arrest him.

Around 2 p.m. on July 12, an officer from the Gainesville Police Department was at the northwest Walmart, looking into an earlier theft, when a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) alerted him to a separate incident happening in the store.

The officer observed the suspect hiding several packs of meat, worth $233, in a bag before heading towards the garden exit. The LPO informed the officer that he would attempt to detain the suspect, while the officer waited outside in his clearly marked patrol car.

The LPO reportedly identified himself to Benton and tried to take the merchandise back, but Benton allegedly pulled the bag back and simultaneously pulled out a pocket knife and pointed it at the LPO. The LPO, in fear for his life, backed away, and the officer, who reported that he saw Benton leave the store without paying for the merchandise, activated his lights and sirens and drove toward Benton, who allegedly fled on foot.

After a brief foot chase, the officer tried to tackle Benton, but Benton allegedly turned around and pointed the pocket knife at the officer in a fighting stance. The officer reported that Benton lunged at him with the knife, and he pushed Benton away and drew his firearm; Benton allegedly ran again, still holding the knife.

After another brief foot chase, the officer deployed his taser, and Benton fell to the ground at the Circle K on NW 34th Boulevard. Benton allegedly kept trying to get back up, and the officer reportedly kicked his knife away from him.

The officer reported that his taser was not functioning properly and that Benton “caught on” to that, got back on his feet, and assumed a fighting stance. The officer reportedly tackled him to the ground and detained him.

A witness who had been inside Walmart reportedly saw the entire incident and said that he saw the LPO follow Benton out the garden exit door and then saw Benton run away from the police officer; the witness said the officer identified himself, but Benton fled, anyway.

Benton has been charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting an officer with violence, and petit theft with two or more prior convictions, all felonies. He has 14 felony convictions (two violent) and eight misdemeanor convictions (one violent); he has served six state prison sentences, with his most recent release in June 2024. Judge Gloria Walker ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.