Benjamine Michael Thompson (PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 48-year-old ex-convict from Stillwater with a criminal record in four counties has been ordered jailed without bail pending a March 27 court appearance on a charge accusing him of pepper-spraying a Stillwater police officer in the face and eyes before escaping detention for a traffic offense.
Benjamine Michael “Mickey” Thompson, who was arrested a week later, could be given as much as a life prison term if convicted of assault and battery on a police officer after two or more prior felony convictions, court records show.
Stillwater Police Detective Adam Elliott alleged in an affidavit that he was monitoring traffic at 3:54 pm on Feb. 20 due to the Special Projects Unit receiving information that Thompson was in route to a trailer in the 2300 block of S. Walnut to deliver an unknown quantity of methamphetamine.
During a traffic stop, “I could see his right hand on his right leg was shaking uncontrollably as I began speaking with him. Thompson had a medium-size dog in the back seat that began barking and approaching the open window.
“As my attention was drawn to the dog, Thompson began spraying me in the face with some type of pepper spray. It immediately went into my eyes, causing a deep burning sensation, and my eyes involuntarily trying to close. I retreated from the location I was standing to the rear of the suspect vehicle.
“I drew my duty issued pistol, pointing it at Thompson. By this time, I was having a hard time seeing anything but was able to make out his location in the vehicle. I began giving him verbal commands, which he ignored and then tried spraying me a second time.
“I could hear the engine of the vehicle revved up like he was trying to flee the area but did not have the vehicle in gear. He then fled the area northbound on Walnut at a high rate of speed through a residential area where other people were likely to be out.
“I got on the radio and advised other units that the suspect fled northbound, but I was unable to see where he went. We searched the area for some time but were unable to locate Thompson,” at that time, the detective alleged in his affidavit.
In addition to that charge, Thompson has been ordered to appear in trial court on April 15 on a charge of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 24, 2023, in Stillwater from his residence in the 1100 block of S. Adams, where 10 grams of methamphetamine, six blue fentanyl pills, and thousands of 2×2 baggies were found, the affidavit alleged.
Stillwater Police Detective Josh Carson had obtained a search warrant for Thompson’s house after a K9 alerted to the odor of drugs in his vehicle where methamphetamine residue, numerous 2×2 baggies, a drug ledger showing monetary amounts of drugs sold and syringes were found, the affidavit alleged.
“Thompson has been arrested numerous times and been to prison four times for selling methamphetamine,” the affidavit alleged.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Thompson had previously been convicted of methamphetamine distribution and conspiracy to commit that crime in 2005 in Payne County, for which in 2007 he was given two concurrent 40-year prison terms of which he served almost 16 years before being paroled in November of 2022.
Thompson had also been convicted of drug charges in Pawnee County, Oklahoma County and Logan County, DOC records show.
