Often accused of being nonchalant in Chicago, Cedric Benson has been anything but laid-back trying to clear his name back home in Texas.

Benson continued an aggressive approach to defending himself against charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest by hiring a new attorney considered one of Austin's finest and most high-profile defense attorneys.

Lawyer Sam Bassett already has interviewed 10 people who were on Benson's boat Saturday night when Benson was arrested on Lake Travis, outside Austin, and described, according to a Lower Colorado River Authority police report, as being cocky, combative and smelling of alcohol. Bassett has scheduled additional interviews.

"I do not believe that Cedric was intoxicated when his boat was boarded by the LCRA officers for a safety inspection," Bassett said Thursday in an e-mail to the Tribune. "I also am concerned that the force used by the LCRA officers, particularly the use of pepper spray, was not necessary under the circumstances."

Bassett, perhaps best known in Austin for defending a man convicted last year of murdering Texas student Jennifer Cave in a case that drew national attention, takes over for Brian Carney. Carney has been a friend and ally of Benson's since high school but his office is in Benson's hometown of Midland, Texas--300 miles from Austin.

"There is a lot of work left to be done and I am not privy to all information regarding the case at this juncture," Bassett said. "Cedric is interested in focusing on football right now and we will work hard for him while he prepares for the season."

Benson faces a May 19 court date but can be represented by Bassett. That also is the first day of organized team activities at Halas Hall, an important step for a running back coming off ankle surgery fighting for the NFL life in Chicago--even before last weekend's arrest.

Another eyewitness has emerged to support Benson's claim that he was mistreated.

Toby Patch was at nearby Emerald Point Marina on Saturday night when he claims he saw police "manhandling" Benson after taking the running back off the boat and heading to a squad car. Patch was not one of the 15 people on the boat.

"As they were taking him up the dock, they stopped, he said, 'I am fine, I can continue walking,' and they put their legs behind his knees and knocked him over his knees and started hog-carrying him," Patch told KXAN-TV in Austin.

Near the parking area, Patch says the treatment of Benson worsened.

"They ended up--I don't know why--but laid him on his back, I heard him say, 'Please don't pepper spray me, please don't pepper spray me,'" Patch said. "It was uncalled for, it was ludicrous, no point for it."

Patch's version sounded similar to the account Benson friend Elizabeth Cartwright, who was on the boat, gave the Tribune on Tuesday night.

Benson is back in Chicago and has not commented since proclaiming his innocence Sunday night and saying police mistreated him. He is considering a lawsuit.

My take: these redneck "cops" are jealous of a young black dude living the life they'd give their left nut to lead*

*even if Benson is losing his job to a guy from Tulane.

Lawyer Sam Bassett already has interviewed 10 people who were on Benson's boat Saturday night when Benson was arrested on Lake Travis, outside Austin, and described, according to a Lower Colorado River Authority police report, as being cocky, combative and smelling of alcohol. Bassett has scheduled additional interviews.

Because one man said he wasnt hostile doesnt cancel the 10 that were actually on his boat. He was in the wrong he resisted arrest plain and simple.

Benson will get off lightly because the statement you just made.

Louisville, I don't think the journalist meant to say that the ten people confirmed that he was "cocky, combative, and smelling of alcohol."

He was just citing what the police report said in a long, winding, and easy to misread sentence.

The way I read it was the 10 people said the opposite...that he wasn't drunk or combative.

quote:

Originally posted by mz:
The way I read it was the 10 people said the opposite...that he wasn't drunk or combative.

I think you're right--the writer didn't do a very good job of stating things clearly:

>>Lawyer Sam Bassett already has interviewed 10 people who were on Benson's boat Saturday night when Benson was arrested on Lake Travis, outside Austin, and described, according to a Lower Colorado River Authority police report, as being cocky, combative and smelling of alcohol. Bassett has scheduled additional interviews.<<

If the ten people had described him as such, it would have been, "Sam Bassett interviewed then people who described Benson as combative, drunk, etc." Of course, there would be no way for the writer to know that, since the lawyer would have to be retarded to leak that kind of information.

Now, does the fact that ten people vouch for Benson prove his innocence? Not necessarily, but it should make us question the initial story.

Dennis

Although a lot of cops are hillbilly racists and despite the witness reports saying benson wasnt drunk, how do you explain that mugshot? When has someone ever driven a boat not drunk? I'm sure the cop overreacted, but i surely dont think Ced's totally innocent.

He said he'd drank but wasn't drunk... and it was TEXAS, which is probably the reason I've been edging toward Ced's version of things.

"Texas. It has Texans."

quote:

Originally posted by xX HOLLYWOOD Xx:
Although a lot of cops are hillbilly racists and despite the witness reports saying benson wasnt drunk, how do you explain that mugshot? When has someone ever driven a boat not drunk? I'm sure the cop overreacted, but i surely dont think Ced's totally innocent.

I dunno...the mugshot doesn't necessarily make me say, "Wow, that guy was loaded!" It could also be the result of getting pepper-sprayed and roughed up by the cops. It's not like Kenny Wright's mugshot, which gives you a contact high just from looking at it.

Dennis

As the resident Bears fan here, I can tell you that Benson has the reputation for being kind of soft both on the field and off of it.

Fair or not, he has that rep and evidently has had it for a while.

So, from everything I've ever read about the guy, he is NOT a drunk and disorderly, resisting arrest kind of guy. In fact, the statements made by his friend and now this dock guy about what he said to the police ("Please don't pepper spray me." "I can continue to walk.") that might sound utterly ridiculous coming from your stereotypical NFL thug, actually ring kind of true to me here.

My feeling: he "resisted" by getting pissed at being stopped and maybe being mouthy. Reportedly, he'd been stopped before as have many others in that part of the lake. Then, a cop didn't like it and got mouthy back. Things escalated and someone made a bad move. Maybe it was Benson, maybe it was a cop.

But I do I think Benson out-and-out brought this on? No, I really don't. Smells like there's plenty of blame to go around on this one.

I live 10 minutes from Lake Travis...been involved once with the cops here and they ItCH and provoke for confrontation....young punks too...Coops here are fkn a-holes big time...they think they are GODS! I believe Benson was innocent...

You are the jack a$$, I am cop and have been for 20 years. It is easy for you to just say "the cops are A$S holes" but let me ask you this.... Had you been drinking? if the answer is yes, then how the hell do you know what really happened....I am tired of the police getting involved in these altercations and getting the $hit for it,,,,do you believe that we can see a person and notice who they are and then frame them into a PR nightmare,,,,,,,get a life people.......

I bet you aren't a cop on lake travis! Or Texas for that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by shepwrite:
He said he'd drank but wasn't drunk... and it was TEXAS, which is probably the reason I've been edging toward Ced's version of things.

"Texas. It has Texans."

And "California. It has Californians."

quote:

Originally posted by 5150k9:
You are the jack a$$, I am cop and have been for 20 years. It is easy for you to just say "the cops are A$S holes" but let me ask you this.... Had you been drinking? if the answer is yes, then how the hell do you know what really happened....I am tired of the police getting involved in these altercations and getting the $hit for it,,,,do you believe that we can see a person and notice who they are and then frame them into a PR nightmare,,,,,,,get a life people.......

Being in Law Enforcement myself, I always laugh when the children (any age) name call Police Officers. EXCEPT when they need one or are pulled over. I always give the Police Office the benefit of the doubt. It is a stressful job, and civilians just don't get it.

DieHard and 5150k9, thanks for doing what you guys do. I mean that sincerely.

I have the utmost respect for cops and most cops I know are truly great people who believe they are providing service to their communities.

But that doesn't mean that there aren't bad cops or that the police in this situation didn't screw up.

Do I think they set out to target Benson? No. Do I think Benson said or did something he shouldn't have? Yes.

But isn't it just as possible if not likely that the police screwed up AS WELL? I think so.

I think what DieHard and 5150 are hitting on is that it's somehow become cool (darn that rap music!) to think of police as being a-holes drunk on power and not as being there to "protect and serve", which is a true shame since police officers really more of the latter than the former in my experience.

quote:

Originally posted by 5150k9:
You are the jack a$$, I am cop and have been for 20 years. It is easy for you to just say "the cops are A$S holes" but let me ask you this.... Had you been drinking? if the answer is yes, then how the hell do you know what really happened....I am tired of the police getting involved in these altercations and getting the $hit for it,,,,do you believe that we can see a person and notice who they are and then frame them into a PR nightmare,,,,,,,get a life people.......

Thank you for your service.

I know what you're saying. My father and both Brothers are LEO's, as well as an uncle and grandfather.

That being said, there is always that 10% that ruin it for the rest. No question people find it easy to blame the Police, often think it is funny and popular. I don't know what happened in this case, but it is not out of the question that maybe the LEO's in question took a few steps over the line.

Not saying it happened.

Uhhh,

He was drunk?
On a boat?

I am personally outraged at the depths of depravity this man has sunk to.

WSS

I see cops driving like absolute morons all the time. I love how they will not hesitate to pull anyone over for not using their turn signal yet they roll through every stop without a turn signal... but its ok, they're cops.

I can see this turning into a good cop bad cop thread.

I don't understand why I have to thank those in law enforcement. Nobody ever thamked me for all the jobs I've done in my life, which include road building in crazy traffic situations, Army Cav Scout, demolition and roofing in college and an assortment of others.

They chose to do what they do, they get paid decent and have good bennies, so why do I have to blow them?

Ever since 911 cops and firemen have been treated like their gods in this country and I don't get it. Does a roofer not risk his life....an ironworker.....framers......carpenters.....?...the list goes on.

I don't believe in cop hatred (although it can be easy to do given the way they behave at times) but this rap bullshit and general anti-authority/let crime prevail mentality has gone way overboard.

BTW, I wish they would pull more people over for not using a frikking turning signal, I'm tired of moron drivers too.