Man lunges at DMV worker

A Carson City man was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly attacked a state employee who told him his license would be revoked.

Royal Victor Benson, 60, was booked into the Carson City Jail on suspicion of simple battery following the 9:45 a.m. incident at the Department of Motor Vehicles, 555 Wright Way.

According to DMV spokesman Tom Jacobs, Benson was directed to take a driving test after his behavior during a traffic stop caused officers some concern.

Following the test, he was informed by a female driving examiner that his license would be revoked.

"We offered him a learner's permit in order to work on his skills and he lunged across the desk and attempted to retrieve his driver's license from the drive examiner's hand," Jacob said. The employee received a superficial scratch on her hand, but Benson's actions were enough to get the attention of fellow employees who quickly surrounded him.

"It probably should be noted that this fellow was calm after the incident," said Jacobs. "He just lunged for that driver's license and when he sat back down on that chair he stayed there."

Jacobs said that the panic buttons at each workers' stations did not work because of a computer problem that was also plaguing the building's door locks.

He said buttons were working on Thursday, but technicians are still investigating the problem.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.