Latest news with #TomBenson
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Late billionaire Tom Benson's granddaughter arrested for allegedly shoving cop in parking row
A heated confrontation over a parking violation in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, ended with the former heir to the New Orleans Saints empire in handcuffs. Police say Rita LeBlanc, 48, granddaughter of late Saints owner Tom Benson, allegedly shoved a city parking officer and grabbed their booting tool during the altercation, according to WCSC-TV. The incident on Monday unfolded near the corner of Meeting and Water Streets, where officers responded to reports of a parking enforcement officer being assaulted, according to Charleston police. Sgt. Chris Stinson told WCSC-TV that during the argument, LeBlanc briefly took hold of the officer's boot-locking device as they were attempting to attach it to a vehicle. LeBlanc was arrested at the scene and charged with hindering a city officer. She was booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center and released the following day on a personal recognizance bond. A court date has been set for July 24. LeBlanc once held a prominent role within the Saints organization, serving as vice chairman from 2012 to 2014. She was widely regarded as the heir to the team's ownership before a falling out with her grandfather. In December 2014, Tom Benson removed her from her role, while also 'cutting off any future contact,' reported at the time. He later announced that his wife, Gayle Benson, would succeed him as owner. The family rift reportedly stemmed from an incident during a 2014 Saints game, in which LeBlanc allegedly grabbed Gayle Benson by the shoulders and shook her while they were in a private suite. The altercation led to a highly publicized legal battle, with LeBlanc, her brother Ryan, and their mother Renee filing a lawsuit seeking to have Tom Benson declared mentally incompetent, per The suit was ultimately unsuccessful. Tom Benson, who owned both the Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans, passed away in 2018. Gayle Benson remains the principal owner of both franchises.
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Disgraced granddaughter of late Saints owner arrested for altercation with South Carolina cop
The granddaughter of late New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson was arrested Monday and accused of interfering with a Charleston, South Carolina police officer as he attempted to put a parking boot on her vehicle. Rita LeBlanc, 48, was released on a personal recognizance bond the following day after being charged with hindering an officer/city employee, according to online jail records. reported that Sargent Christ Stinson accused LeBlanc of taking the locking tool from a parking boot as he attempted to fasten it to one of the wheels of her car. LeBlanc, a former vice chairperson for the Saints, is due back in court on July 24. A child of Benson's adopted daughter, Renee, Rita was fired by her grandfather from the team in 2015 before being disinherited altogether along with her mother and brother, Ryan. She would respond with a lawsuit, challenging Benson's mental competency at the time of his decision. The two sides settled in 2016. Previously, in 2012, Jeff Duncan reported she was suspended from the team because of 'lack of focus and abrasive management style.' Sources told Duncan that LeBlanc's sense of entitlement became an issue with her grandfather, who'd frequently worked six-day weeks despite his immense wealth. Benson's third wife and LeBlanc's stepmother, Gayle, became the Saints' principal owner in 2018 following his death. The Saints have failed to reach the postseason since 2020, while Gayle has faced criticism over a Catholic Church sex scandal in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The Associated Press reported in January of 2020 that senior vice president of communications Greg Bensel provided PR advice to church officials as they navigated fallout from a child sex-abuse scandal. The scandal resurfaced before February's Super Bowl in New Orleans when the AP released emails showing the extent of the Saints communications team's involvement with the church. 'This is disgusting,' state Representative Mandie Landry (Democrat - New Orleans) said in February. 'As a New Orleans resident, taxpayer and Catholic, it doesn't make any sense to me why the Saints would go to these lengths to protect grown men who raped children. All of them should have been just as horrified at the allegations.'
The Province
14-05-2025
- General
- The Province
Nanaimo bungee jumper injured after falling out of harness
The woman fell out of a harness attached around her ankles after reaching the lowest point of the jump, plunging about 10 feet into the river below, said Tom Benson, chief experience officer of Wild Play. A bungee jumper readies to jump. Photo by WILDPLAY NANAIMO VIA CHEK NEWS A woman who slipped out of a harness while bungee jumping in Nanaimo on the weekend walked away mostly unscathed. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The woman fell out of a harness attached around her ankles after reaching the lowest point of the jump, plunging about 10 feet into the river below, said Tom Benson, chief experience officer of Wild Play. She suffered bruising on her ankle, but was in 'incredibly good spirits,' when the Wild Play team retrieved her from the water. While the woman felt fine, Wild Play staff insisted the woman get checked out by medical professionals, he said. B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed it received a call at 2:31 p.m. and paramedics treated one patient who was taken to hospital in stable condition. Ron Gueulette, fire chief of Cranberry Fire Department, also responded to the call. 'She was a little shaken up going into the river, but other than that, she was OK,' he said. It's not clear how the woman fell out of the harness, which has two points of attachment: a compression system that wraps around both legs just above the ankles and a backup sling that wraps around one leg, Benson said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's an anomaly that in this one instance it didn't work,' he said. First-time jumpers use the ankle harness, while some more advanced jump options offered at Wild Play use a harness that goes around the torso, Benson said. Wild Play, which also has locations in Greater Victoria, Maple Ridge, Niagara Falls, Ont., and two in New York state, has been operating bungee jumps for 30 years and has provided more than 400,000 jumps. There has never been a previous incident in which someone fell during a bungee jump, he said. Benson said the company believes it knows how to ensure the system does not fail again in the future, but he was not able to share the information publicly until it is confirmed. He expects the bungee jump to be back in operation in about five to 10 days. 'We won't do anything unless it's as proven as it can be and folks will have to make their own decisions around that, which has always been the case with bungee jumping, Benson said. regan-elliott@ Local News Vancouver Canucks CFL Local News News
