A "high-risk" sex offender with a history of violence has been arrested without incident after fleeing from a Vancouver halfway house.
James Patrick Benson, 36, fled the Vancouver house last week, and police issued a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest. He was located in Coquitlam over the weekend, and was taken into custody, officers said Monday.
Benson is a two-time offender with a rap sheet that includes attempted murder and sexual assault with a weapon. Police said Benson was granted statutory release on Thursday as part of a long-term supervision order. He fled the halfway house immediately after being released.
The disappearance last week was not Benson's first, as he was reported missing from another halfway house in the spring of 2012. He was located and arrested about a week after his disappearance was noted, police said.
Three years later, Burnaby RCMP issued a Canada-wide warrant for Benson's arrest again in connection with an alleged assault. He was arrested later, and taken back into custody.
Benson has been described as white, 5-10 and approximately 200 pounds. He has brown hair, brown eyes and several tattoos. He has the numbers 011707 tattooed on his left wrist, the word "morbid" on his left forearm, "lost soul" on his chest and red stars on both shoulders.
