An Elyria man with a long history of roadway-related offenses and public solicitation charges was arrested again on June 4, following what authorities say is his eleventh violation involving panhandling, trespassing, or illegal use of local highways.
James S. Bennett, 64, was taken into custody by Elyria police after being seen riding a bicycle on State Route 57 near Midway Boulevard, an area where non-motorized traffic is prohibited. According to police, Bennett was traveling in the northbound lanes and crossed three lanes of traffic, forcing multiple vehicles to slow down to avoid hitting him.
Bennett was charged with Freeway Use Prohibited by Pedestrians, Bicycles, and Animals, under case number 25TRD04243, a minor misdemeanor. Two additional charges were filed the following day under case number 25TRD03159, including Bicycle Signal Devices and a second count of Freeway Use Prohibited by Pedestrians and Bicycles.
Court and jail records show that Bennett has been cited or arrested at least ten other times since 2023 for similar violations. Previous charges include criminal trespass, use of highway for soliciting, theft, and repeated infractions related to operating a bicycle or begging in restricted areas. He has previously served time for contempt of court and been issued numerous warnings by local officers.
Following his June 4 arrest, Bennett was booked into the Lorain County Jail with bond set at $2,000 across all charges. He remains in custody pending a follow-up hearing scheduled for June 10 in Elyria Municipal Court.
Due to his extensive history of similar violations and noncompliance with past warnings, police opted for arrest rather than citation in the most recent case.