According to a news release from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Sean Bennett, who is 31 years old, has been sentenced to five years in state prison for second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun. The release stated that he will have to complete at least three-and-a-half years of his sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.
At 1:31 a.m. on Sunday, August 27, 2023, a man flagged down an Atlantic City officer near the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Pacific Avenue. According to the victim, a man wearing an orange hoodie, a mask, and carrying a bag had pulled a gun on him at a traffic light near the Playground II store.
As Bennett was leaving the store, the police noticed him trying to hide something in a fenced area. Upon making eye contact with an officer, Bennett started walking briskly towards the east on Pacific.
The police instructed Bennett to raise his arms, but he chose to disregard their orders and instead pushed one of the officers. In an attempt to flee the scene, Bennett sprinted away, but the police quickly caught up with him and tackled him to the ground.
When the officers attempted to arrest Bennett, he put up a fight but was ultimately handcuffed. During a search, law enforcement discovered various items on his person, including a 9mm Taurus G3 pistol, an open knife, and two small ecstasy pills.
Bennett was instructed to relinquish his firearm as part of his sentencing.
