FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (TCN) — A 44-year-old man has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after he allegedly attacked a woman and her son who were their way to the school bus stop.
On July 7, Hutch Benjamin allegedly approached a woman, referred to by the outlet as Chrissy, in a parking lot, CBS News reports. She was walking with her 12-year-old son, who is nonverbal and has autism. Benjamin allegedly started yelling, “I told you not to come” at the boy.
CBS News reports Benjamin then allegedly hit the boy with an object. When Chrissy tried to intervene, he allegedly struck her in the head as well. According to surveillance footage later obtained by police, the object used in the alleged attack appeared to be a cane or bat, NBC Miami reports.
Both the boy and Chrissy were treated for their injuries at the hospital. The boy suffered internal damage to one eye, but his vision is expected to recover, per CBS News.
CBS reports that according to Chrissy, bystanders did not step in during the alleged attack. She told the outlet that her son has been very nervous about going outside since the incident.
NBC Miami reports that police released surveillance footage of the attack to get the public’s help in identifying the suspect. On July 10, Benjamin was located and arrested. He was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, per CBS News.
NBC Miami reports that Benjamin has been in and out for prison for the past 25 years for various violent crimes and had most recently been released from jail in May. He had pleaded no contest to violating probation in an armed robbery case. In March, a defense attorney filed a motion stating that Benjamin had been diagnosed with unspecified schizophrenia, bipolar type.
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