Benton man arrested after burning vehicles, attempting to shoot corrections officer

CHARLESTON, Mo. � A Benton man has been arrested in Mississippi County and faces numerous charges after allegedly setting fire to a truck he was test driving and trying to shoot a corrections officer.

According to a news release from Mississippi County Sheriff Brandon Caid, Dustin Robinson 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree arson, second-degree burglary, two counts of tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree, two counts of knowing burning, two counts of first-degree property damage, second-degree assault, disarming a corrections officer, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary.

Dustin Robinson allegedly destroyed a truck he was test driving with an excavator before burning the vehicle.Mississippi County Sheriff's Department

Caid said Robinson was in Mississippi County driving a truck he had taken for a test drive but failed to return. Robinson ended up at a residence on County Road 212 near Route J outside of Charleston where he used an excavator to destroy the truck before setting it on fire.

Caid stated Robinson then set the residence on fire along with a large shop building containing a passenger car and other equipment. Later, Robinson forced a motorist to drive him to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Weigh Station off of Interstate 57, threatening the driver harm if he refused, according to Caid. He then stole items from the motorist�s vehicle before jumping out, he said in the release.

Dustin Robinson allegedly set a Mississippi County residence on fire along with a large shop building containing a passenger car and other equipment.Mississippi County Sheriff's Department

Robinson then attempted to enter the weigh station, but was confronted by employees and fled into a nearby field where he was located and detained, the release stated.

Caid said after being transported to the Mississippi County Detention Center, Robinson became combative and was able to disarm a correctional officer of his Taser and attempted to shoot the officer. Caid said the officer was not injured and Robinson was successfully restrained by officers without further incident.

Robinson remains in custody on a $325,000 cash-only bond.