LAKE WORTH, Fla. (CBS12) — It was a chaotic night for a man accused of trying to stop firefighters from extinguishing a burning vehicle, then later throwing a toilet at Palm Beach County deputies.
According to a criminal complaint from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, deputies responded to Rodeo Drive in Lake Worth after receiving calls about a car that was engulfed in flames.
The vehicle on fire was identified as a 1986 four-door Chevrolet Monte Carlo. As firefighters tried to put out the vehicle, a man, identified as David Benchetrit, attempted to interfere with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue’s efforts to put out the fire.
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The arrest report says Benechetrit’s actions caused firefighters to stop firing their hose on the car due to the suspect constantly approaching the active fire scene.
As Palm Beach County Sheriff deputies tried to stop Benechetrit, 32, from interfering with the burning vehicle, he threw a toilet at law enforcement, deputies say.
The sheriff’s office says once fire rescue had put out the fire, Benechetrit then grabbed a garden hose from his house and began spraying deputies and firefighters.
Benechetrit’s actions led to him being arrested, and he was booked on felony counts of battery, approaching a first responder with specified intent after a warning, preventing the extinguishment of a fire, and resisting.
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