Manhunt suspect turns himself in due to cold temperatures
Jan 21, 2025
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) — A fugitive who was on the run in Pottawatomie County late Monday is now behind bars after turning himself in due to the cold weather.
Body camera footage shows Pottawatomie County deputies trying to pull over 27-year-old Michael Benham after he ran a stop sign.
"The suspect fled and so Deputy Johnson pursued. As he was pursuing, the suspect ended up backing into Deputy Johnson," said Justin Wood, with the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office.
"F***! He just smacked my vehicle!" said the deputy. "My shoulder is sore."
"The vehicle came off the trailer," said Wood. "The vehicle and the trailer and the vehicle in the back there were all stolen."
Wood said after Benham hit the deputy's car, he drove off the road, ditched his truck and ran away.
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"I lost him, I'm going to be at the intersection and Canyon and Morrell," said the deputy in the video.
"We had multiple departments help the assist the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office. We had departments from Cleveland County, we had the DA's office from Pottawatomie County, Lincoln County," said Wood. "They brought drones and dogs and everyone came out and helped."
Wood said Benham was no where to be found until about five hours later.
"The temperatures were very cold last night, so around 11 p.m. he eventually turned himself in," said Wood. "He actually went to someone's home, knocked on the door, and they had called the sheriff's office."
The Sheriff's Office said that Benham was also wanted out of Lincoln County on burglary charges.