Former Benson Police Department officer Peter Alphonso Blake was indicted in May 2026 on multiple felony charges, including forcible rape, first-degree kidnapping, and involuntary sexual servitude. The charges stem from an investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation following allegations that he assaulted a woman in her home after responding to a call for service.
While the department faces significant scrutiny over this indictment, the narrative on true crime podcasts remains bifurcated. On Crime Junkie, Ashley Flowers recently framed the Benson Police Department as a dedicated force in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Christopher Cole Thomas. She stated, "They are on a mission, and they might be closer than ever to answers."
The contrast between the department's public image in older cold case investigations and the current reality of the Peter Alphonso Blake scandal is jarring. Where Crime Junkie encourages listeners to trust the agency by noting, "if anyone out there knows what happened to Christopher Cole Thomas, you can contact the Benson Police Department," the local community is now grappling with the fact that a badge was used to facilitate violent crime. The department's ability to maintain public trust while managing the fallout of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation findings will likely define their local standing for the remainder of the year.
