Driver Tased After Fleeing Traffic Stop, Assaulting Officers, Authorities Say

SMITHFIELD – A Benson man is facing a dozen criminal charges after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop, discarding drugs, and assaulting two law enforcement officers before being subdued with a Taser.

The incident occurred around 3:05 a.m. on August 23, when a Johnston County sheriff’s deputy observed a white Mercedes crossing the centerline on U.S. Highway 70 near Wilson’s Mills Road. The vehicle was also displaying a fictitious license plate, prompting the deputy to initiate a traffic stop.

According to the sheriff’s office, the driver — later identified as Kimothy Devon White, 33, of Blackman Street in Benson — initially slowed down but then sped off. As the vehicle turned onto Swift Creek Road, deputies said White tossed two bags from the car before finally pulling over.

White exited the vehicle while talking on two cell phones. The deputy reportedly noticed a bulge in White’s pants pocket, which turned out to be a large amount of cash. White allegedly denied knowledge of the cash.

A Wilson’s Mills police officer arrived on scene to assist and recovered the discarded bags, which reportedly contained illegal narcotics.

When officers attempted to detain White, he allegedly shoved the deputy and ran into a nearby field. After a brief foot chase, authorities say White began physically assaulting both officers, punching and shoving them.

The deputy deployed a Taser, but White tried to remove the probes and flee again, prompting a second Taser deployment. After a brief struggle, officers were able to restrain and handcuff him.

White now faces multiple charges, including two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer, three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, driving while impaired, possession of drug paraphernalia, and additional misdemeanor and traffic offenses.

Authorities reportedly seized suspected cocaine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy, drug paraphernalia, an undisclosed amount of cash and two cell phones as part of the investigation.