Armed robbery and stalking cases lead to local arrests

Charges of armed robbery and battery are being filed against a man accused of beating up a homeless person in Cameron Park, and stealing the victim’s coat. 

La Crosse police say security video showed 35-year-old Christopher Benson hitting a man in the park with a large wooden club early Saturday morning, and then stealing that man’s coat.  

Police found Benson nearby after the attack, and ordered him to drop the club, or he might be bitten by a K-9 officer. 

Benson was subdued with a shot from a Taser gun.  He faces a robbery charge as a repeater. 

A cash bond has been set for Benson, who is being ordered not to carry any kind of weapon.  

Also in La Crosse County court, a man from Tomah is being charged with stalking a woman who recently worked at the La Crosse public library. 

Steven Jacobs is suspected of stalking and harassing the victim repeatedly during the past year, sometimes sending her sexually explicit e-mails. 

Jacobs has been a frequent visitor to the library.  The victim says on one occasion, she objected to Jacobs taking a picture of her on his cellphone. 

According to court records, Jacobs turns 70 years old on Tuesday.