UPDATED (1:35 p.m.) — Scott Benway will remain in jail until a monitoring bracelet can be put on him in connection with the Mother’s Day explosion and shooting in Washington.
He appeared in court by way of Zoom from a wheelchair in the Tazewell County Jail, a WMBD reporter in the courtroom said.
Benway spoke to the judge in a clear tone. He said nothing when the judge listed the charges, which could send him to prison for the rest of his life if he’s convicted on all counts.
Because of medical issues, prosecutors asked that he be released since the explosion burned him and he has been in the hospital since.
However, a pretrial service officer told the prosecutor that a monitor could not be placed on Benway until he is medically cleared, which the prosecutor found uncomfortable.
The judge decided that Benway’s release is contingent on his being able to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet and will remain in jail for the time being.
Defense attorney Joseph Borsberry objected on Tuesday to having the hearing recorded by the media in the third-floor courtroom. That’s his right under the state’s cameras in the courtroom policy. His reasoning was that he had not yet had a chance to talk to Benway about the matter.
Normally, requests to film a hearing are filed two weeks in advance, but given that Benway’s hearing was announced Tuesday morning and scheduled hours later, there was no way to do it other than on an emergency basis.
Circuit Judge Chris Doscotch said he would schedule a hearing later for the media to argue why they should be allowed to record the hearings.
Benway will next appear in court at 10 a.m. on June 4.
UPDATED (11:30 a.m.) — A Washington man told police to come to his townhouse on Mother’s Day because there was a possible dead body or someone cooking meth inside.
That’s according to a probable cause statement filed Tuesday morning in the case of Scott Benway, 39, who was booked Monday night on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and residential arson.
The first two charges, according to court records, allege Benway shot at responding police officers in the early morning hours of May 10.
Given that charges were filed, it’s likely he will soon appear in Tazewell County Circuit Court for an initial appearance and possibly a detention hearing.
Per state law, the Illinois State Police is handling the investigation into the shooting because at least one officer fired their service weapon during the incident.
Probable Cause statement
Benway allegedly called 911 at about 12:30 a.m. and spoke about “secret societies, cartels, meth labs and broader community corruption.” He spoke about a possible dead body at one of the units in his four-unit townhome. There was also a possible meth lab he claimed, the affidavit from an Illinois State Police trooper states.
He made similar statements about a home in East Peoria, adding that his father and his father’s wife could be dead. He told the dispatcher that police “were part of the cartel” and that he would not answer the door if officers came. He ended the call, the document states, saying officers were at the scene.
A minute later, Washington police officers arrived. He refused to answer the door but was seen peering through window blinds with a a ski mask on. He was heard mumbling unintelligible words, the complaint states.
Officers called him and he refused to come out, saying they were part of the “cartel.” He refused to talk to medical officials as well, the complaint states.
Four hours later, more officers arrived after they heard sounds of gunfire from inside the unit. Residents were evacuated and again, they called his phone. Benway allegedly told officers that the situation “would end poorly” before hanging up, the complaint stated.
There was more gunfire and he was seen moving about the inside of the unit and then to the back porch. While on the porch, he fired several shots in the direction and over the heads of Washington and East Peoria police officers who were at the scene.
An officer returned fire and then Benway went back into the house. He was heard firing several more shots inside the garage and at 5:43 a.m., a large explosion occurred, causing “catastrophic damage to the residence and the entire townhouse building,” according to court records.
He left the townhouse and was immediately arrested and taken to an area hospital.
A loaded rifle magazine and a pistol was found inside the home. An investigator from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal found a damaged propane tank in the garage with defects “purportedly made from a firearm being fired into the tank.”
This story will be updated.
Man booked into Tazewell County Jail in connection with Washington explosion
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — A Washington man is in custody Tuesday in connection with a large explosion in Washington on Mother’s Day.
Scott Benway, 39, was booked Monday night into the Tazewell County Jail on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and residential arson.
The first charge appears online as first-degree murder but online jail often show the more serious count due to the state statute process.
Benway has not yet been formally charged and there is no case pending in Tazewell County Circuit Court. However, he could appear in court later this week.
The charges are felonies that could send him to prison for decades if he’s convicted of all counts.
Tazewell County Sheriff Jeff Lower confirmed Benway was booked into the jail in connection with the explosion and shots fired incident. He declined to comment further, referring all calls to the Illinois State Police or the Washington Police Department.
When reached, Washington police referred calls to the state police who did not immediately respond to an email.
An email and phone call to the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s office was also not immediately returned.
Per state law, the Illinois State Police is handling the investigation into the shooting because an officer fired their service weapon during the incident. Once their investigation is complete, they will pass their finding to the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s office if necessary.
What we know about the incident
Just after 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, officers with the Washington Police Department were called to the 900 block of Mallard Way after multiple gunshots were reported, said Washington Police Chief Jeff Stevens.
The chief said a person inside the multi-unit building fired on officers. One Washington officer returned fire.
An officer from an assisting agency received a minor injury during the gunfire exchange with the suspect. The officer was examined at the scene and remained on duty, Stevens said.
For currently unknown reasons, an explosion and fire occurred at the home from which the suspect was shooting. All residents in the building were displaced due to the fire damage.
According to a release from the Illinois State Police, the suspect got out of the building and was injured by the fire.
Officers took the suspect into custody and they were taken to the hospital. Their condition is unknown at this time.
The state police say no officers were hit by gunfire. It is currently unknown if the suspect was shot.
WMBD has filed a Freedom of Information request with the state police seeking more details on this incident. So far, the state police has said it needs more time to find the information and comply with the request.
WMBD TV first reported on this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
