Man Arrested After Firing On Officers In Cosby

A man is in custody in Cocke County after firing shots at police officers. The incident happened Thursday on Caton’s Grove Road in Cosby after getting a complaint call from 47 year old Mark Benson. When deputies arrived on scene, Benson retreated into a tent. Deputies informed Benson that he had outstanding warrants against him, to which he replied they would have to kill him.

Sgt. Josh Smith attempted to get Benson to come out of the tent by distracting him, Benson then fired shots at officers, who then took cover. Upon trying to negotiate with Benson to get him out of the tent, he continued firing on law enforcment. The SWAT team was then called into action. SWAT fired non-lethal rounds into the tent, but Benson repsonded by firing more shots at officers. The SWAT team then moved their MRAP vehicle closer to the tent and once again fired more non-lethal rounds into it. Shortly afterwards, Benson finally surrendered and was taken into custody.

Detectives then searched the tent and found a shotgun that had been stolen out of another county, along with several rounds that had been shot inside the tent. Benson faces numerous felony charges and is being held in the Jefferson County Detention Center without bond.