A 30-year-old Centralia man has been ordered held without bond after making his first appearance in Marion County Court Thursday for attempted aggravated kidnapping and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
Deairius Bennett of South Cherry allegedly came to the playground area of St. Mary’s School at 11:45 Wednesday morning. He pointed to a specific child and told Principal Maria Pryor that was his son and he was there to pick him up. Pryor responded he was not a parent of any child at St. Mary’s. Bennett then reportedly claimed to be the Archbishop. At that point, Bennett left as the principal requested, but said he would be back at 3:00 to get the child he claimed was his son.
Centralia Police were called and requested to be at the school when the man returned. When Bennett returned twelve minutes early and began beating on locked doors in the breezeway seeking the child, police were requested. As they arrived, Bennett walked away from the school and got into a pickup truck parked on the east side of Maple Street. The parents of the child arrived on the scene at about the same time and confirmed the child was theirs, but Bennett continued to say the child was his. The owner of the pickup indicated Bennett did not have permission to be in the truck.
At that point, police took Bennett into custody. He reportedly pulled his arm away to try and prevent being handcuffed.
Centralia Police Lt. Steve Whritenour said Bennett had also caused problems in several businesses Thursday morning, but none wanted to press charges.
Judge Douglas Gruenke also revoked Bennett’s pre-trial release on other pending charges, which include the alleged criminal sexual assault of a woman in May of last year and aggravated battery to a man last October. He was also charged with attempted criminal trespass to a vehicle on the same day as the aggravated battery for pulling the passenger-side door handle while the vehicle was at Hickory and Broadway.
Bennett is due back in court on April 28th for a preliminary hearing on the attempted aggravated kidnapping charge and other pending issues.
