Poplarville Police officers confronted an allegedly crazed man who was said to be attacking cars after claiming he had smoked a substance called “Spice” and felt he needed to take others to hell with him.

The incident was called into the department just before noon on Oct. 10. Witnesses reported seeing a man beating windows out of cars near the park off of Mississippi Highway 26, said Detective John Kramer.

Kramer said he arrived on scene to find a man, later identified as 23-year-old Bennie Tessenair using a door handle and rim of a Dodge pickup truck to hold himself up off the ground. Tessenair gave two addresses during his arrest, 31 Davis Dawsey Rd., and 37 North Forty Rd., Lot B, Carriere, the detective said.

When Kramer asked Tessenair if he could stand on his own power, he told the detective that he felt as though he was going to Hell, Kramer said. Tessenair’s state of mind and actions prompted Kramer to attempt to take the man into custody, but Tessenair resisted, the detective said. Kramer said he then called for backup.

When backup arrived, the officers again attempted to take Tessenair into custody, but he continued to resist, Kramer said.

“It was obvious he was not going to comply with being handcuffed, so he was tased,” Kramer said.

Soon after being tased, Kramer said Tessenair became very compliant and cognizant and was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers noticed Tessenair was suffering from road rash and some lacerations as he was being taken into custody, the detective said. Kramer said investigation into the matter and witness statements determined Tessenair had entered the roadway of Miss. Hwy. 26 from the area of South St. Charles Street, right in the path of traffic.

The driver of the Dodge pickup where Kramer found Tessenair said she had to slam on her brakes to avoid hitting the man, the detective said. Tessenair then jumped onto the hood of her vehicle, ripped off a windshield wiper scaring her into driving off with him still holding onto the truck, Kramer said. Tessenair fell off the truck as the driver drove away, suffering the road rash and lacerations, Kramer said.

Officers asked Tessenair what caused him to act the way he had, the detective said. Kramer said he told the officers that prior to being arrested Tessenair was smoking a substance called “Spice” at his girlfriend’s apartment located off U.S. Highway 11 in Poplarville. After smoking the substance, Tessenair began to believe he was going to Hell and decided to take other people with him, Kramer said.

Tessenair was charged with disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct and found to have warrants with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, Kramer said. According to arrest reports filed with the Poplarville Police Department, the warrants were for speeding, no driver’s license and no insurance.