LIMA OH July 29 2019 — An hourly production employee at the Ford Motor Company Lima Engine Plant who was fired Monday faces preliminary charges of misdemeanor assault after allegedly attacking a supervisor and two security guards at the factory following his dismissal.

Summons were issued Friday in Lima Municipal Court for Bentley Cooks, 30, of Lima, who was preliminarily be charged with multiple counts of misdemeanor assault.

According to a spokesman for the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the Ford engine plant at 4:30 p.m. Monday in response to an alleged assault.

Chris Miller, a production line supervisor, told investigators that Cooks had been called to the front of the factory by human resources officials “to discuss his employment” shortly before the attacks took place.

On his way to the human resources office, Cooks reportedly attacked Miller from behind by “punching him in the face with a closed fist,” according to the sheriff’s office spokesman. Officers reportedly observed a cut on Miller’s chin following the incident.

Cooks also injured two security guards during Monday’s incident. Ashley Musser and Gregory Patton suffered minor injuries after being called to escort Cooks from the building after his employment was terminated.
Musser said she was shoved by Cooks into a door, causing pain to her shoulder, while Patton told investigators Cooks ripped his shirt and slammed his hand in a door as the guards attempted to get him to leave the premises.

Cooks reportedly then ran from the building, and officers were unable to locate him.

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