Northern Arizona Man Sentenced for Assaulting Police Officer
Defendant Receives More Than Five Years in Prison

PHOENIX—Larry Shonnie Ben, Jr., 31, of Kayenta, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday to 66 months in federal prison by the Honorable Frederick J. Martone for assaulting a police officer. Ben entered a guilty plea September 21, 2010, to assault with a dangerous weapon.

On December 13, 2009, officers from the Kayenta Police Department received calls about a drunk driver. During a traffic stop involving Ben, an officer reached into his vehicle to retrieve the keys. At that point, Ben drove over the officer’s foot as he attempted to flee the scene.

“This individual was intoxicated to the point where he was uncooperative and even violent, posing a threat to the very officials who keep the community safe,” said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. “This case is a great example of multiple federal, state, and tribal agencies working together to bring the defendant to justice.”

Kayenta police, assisted by the Shiprock Police Department pursued Ben. During the chase, Ben deliberately hit the passenger side of the victim officer’s vehicle. The officer proceeded to drive in front of Ben to warn oncoming vehicles. At that point, Ben accelerated his vehicle to a high rate of speed and collided into the back of the officer’s vehicle.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Navajo Division of Public Safety Department of Criminal Investigations, the Kayenta Police Department, the Shiprock Police Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Christina J. Reid-Moore, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-10-8014-PCT-FJM
RELEASE NUMBER: 2010-263 (Ben)