LANCASTER COUNTY – A Lancaster County man charged with using a taser to randomly assault a woman in her home will have his case proceed to county court. 34-year-old Benjamin Brinker of Salisbury Township waived his preliminary hearing on charges of burglary, aggravated assault, and use of an incapacitation device. Brinker entered the victim’s residence in the 200 block of S. Belmont Road in Paradise Township where he fired a taser and assaulted her on Aug. 19. Brinker, who was a stranger to the victim, then proceeded to punch her while she was on the ground before he fled. The victim’s husband saw Brinker fleeing on foot northbound along S. Belmont Road shortly before 4 p.m. Investigators used information from the taser projectiles to trace its manufacturer, who used serial numbers found on a cartridge cover left behind to identify Brinker as the weapon’s purchaser. Surveillance footage from the area before the attack captured Brinker only about 1,250 feet from the victim’s home, walking away from his vehicle. Brinker remains in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $1.5 million bail.
BENJAMIN BRINKER