At around 1:15 AM on January 9, 2026, officers were sent to the apartment building at [ADDRESS REDACTED] East, Maplewood, Ramsey County on a domestic assault. Officer spoke to IW [DOB REDACTED] who had a swollen lip, redness on her neck, and a disheveled appearance. IW said her boyfriend, COLIN ANTHONY BENNING [DOB REDACTED], had invited her to his apartment. They were in his bedroom when Benning began saying things that didn’t make sense. Benning got off the bed and said, “Sometimes I wanna kill you.” IW was uncomfortable and got off the bed to leave the bedroom.
Benning slapped IW and briefly choked her applying pressure to her neck with both hands around her throat. IW said she could breathe, but she had difficulty speaking when Benning choked her. Benning let go after a few seconds and continued to slap IW. IW went to the living room and tried to grab her things to leave. Benning followed and slapped the black bag IW held from her hands to the floor. Benning continued slapping IW’s face, and he grabbed her hair. Benning gabbed a box cutter, held the edge of the blade to IT’s throat, and said he would kill IW. Benning set the knife down on the kitchen counter and grabbed a broom.
Benning hit IW’s lip with the broom handle. When Benning turned his back on IW she fled into the hallway and called 911. Benning tried to take IW’s phone when she was talking to dispatch. IW managed to prevent Benning from disconnecting the phone call. Benning slapped IW, grabbed her from the rear, and threw her to the floor. IW said Benning had choked her on multiple previous occasions. Officers made contact with Benning at his apartment. Benning told officers they could check his apartment when he was asked if anyone else was inside.
Officers saw a backpack on the floor, a brook on the kitchen floor, and a box cutter with its blade open on the kitchen island. Officers recovered the box cutter. Benning was advised of his constitutional rights and agreed to speak to police. Benning and IW got into an argument that eventually went into the hallway. Benning said “s*** really got serious” when they got in the hallway. Benning claimed IW pulled his dreads out three different times in the hallway. The interviewing officer did not note any dreads that appeared to have been pulled from Benning’s head.
Benning said he did the same thing to IW that she did to him. Benning admitted he tried to take IW’s phone when she was calling 911. Benning denied threatening to kill IW or threatening her with a box cutter. Benning said the box cutter was for opening his Christmas presents. Apartment neighbors reported a woman in the hallway asked for help and said, “He’s trying to take my phone.
