Inset: Hutch Benjamin (Miami-Dade Jail via WFOR). Background: Surveillance footage purportedly capturing Benjamin attacking a woman and her nonverbal son in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (WTVJ).
According to authorities, a 44-year-old man from Florida assaulted a woman and her 12-year-old nonverbal son using a cane or baseball bat while they were en route to the boy’s bus stop.
Hutch Benjamin faces allegations involving two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The incident occurred during a Tuesday morning in a parking area near the intersections of Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. The victim, identified only as Chrissy, recounted her harrowing experience to local news stations, including the CBS affiliate, WFOR, and the NBC affiliate, WTVJ. She shared that she and her son had recently settled in the neighborhood.
As they proceeded towards the bus stop, Benjamin reportedly approached them from behind.
“He just said, ‘I told you not to come,'” Chrissy recalled.
That’s when he allegedly started beating her son, she said. She shielded the boy from the attack and Benjamin allegedly started beating her, too. There was no motive and the victims and suspect did not know one another.
There were bystanders in the area, but they did nothing.
“They didn’t care, even if I showed them blood,” she said.
Chrissy was eventually able to fend her attacker off. He ran away.
The victims suffered cuts and bruises but were traumatized by the violence. Chrissy said she was stunned by what happened.
“You can’t attack a child, especially a kid who’s 12 years old and a woman, and get away with it,” she said.
Fort Lauderdale cops released surveillance video of the attack.
Benjamin was arrested on Friday.
The victims were thankful that cops took Benjamin off the streets.
“It was never forgotten. And that’s what I’m happy for,” Chrissy said. “Justice was done in the community. I can feel some type of peace.”
Benjamin’s next court date was not listed.