[The police interview of Amiya T. Johnson, the victim in this incident, is available now to all supporters on Patreon. Johnson’s story bears little similarity to the one Lewis tells in this video.]
On the night of April 10, 2016 Benjamin Gregory Lewis, then 37, got into a fight with his Lakewood, Washington neighbor Amiya T. Johnson. Lewis was a former Army combat medic who had served in Iraq. He had been detailed to Ranger school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and would disclose later that night that he was diagnosed with PTSD. At the time the fight occurred Lewis was working in construction as a concrete finisher.
Despite not knowing the name of the person he was about to nearly kill, Lewis and Johnson threw down in the parking lot of their apartment complex. At one point during the fight, Lewis was seen by witnesses on top of Johnson attempting to strangle him. Witnesses also reported seeing Lewis holding a steak knife, which he used to deliver four stab wounds to Johnson’s neck and upper body. Lewis fled in a dark colored Kia before the police arrived.
When officers arrived on scene they found Johnson lying in a supine position on the ground. He appeared incoherent and there was a knife blade – broken from the handle – on the ground next to him. Also nearby were a glass crack pipe and a 211 Steel Reserve beer can. Responding officers observed multiple puncture wounds on Johnson and a medic bystander was providing basic life support.
On scene officers contacted a neighbor who had witnessed much of the fight and also contacted Amber Lance, Benjamin Lewis’s girlfriend. The neighbor-witness made allegations suggesting that Amber had been involved in the crime.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Officer Nick McClelland had located Lewis’s Kia, and with the assistance of other officers made a high-risk traffic stop, taking Lewis into custody. Lewis was cooperative and told Officer McClelland that he would answer questions “to a point.” He related that he had just left his residence and was headed to “nowhere”. When asked why he had blood on him, Lewis responded “there was a scuffle.” Officer McClelland asked him who he had a “scuffle” with and Lewis replied “a dude that kept fucking with me” who he could only describe as a fat black male. When Officer McClelland asked Lewis what had happened during the fight, Lewis replied “I was trying to kill him.” Lewis denied using any weapons and stated that he was only trying to choke the fat black dude.
Benjamin Lewis, Amber Lance, and the witness were all brought to the Lakewood police station for questioning.
A few days ago Real World Police published a video containing exclusive footage of the police interview of the neighbor-witness, as well as the interrogation of Amber Lance. This is the interrogation of Benjamin Gregory Lewis.
Although Lewis initially pleaded not guilty, on August 25, 2016 Lewis pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to two counts of second-degree assault. Judge John McCarthy sentenced him to two years, two months in prison.
Update: Real World Police has purchased copies of the sentencing order, warrant of confinement, and order setting restitution in this case. The latter order reveals that Lewis was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $36,093.34. Interestingly, the funds are to be allocated as follows: $1,956.24 for crime victims compensation, and $34,137.10 to “Community Health Plan,” the latter being the cost of Johnson’s medical treatment. Additionally, Lewis was ordered to pay court and justice-related costs in the amount of $800. A ten-year no contact order was issued for Lewis in relation to Amiya Johnson. (The no contact order is not legally allowed to last longer than the maximum sentence for the crime.)
The sentencing order also contains criminal history information for Lewis. It contains three line items. In 2008 Lewis was convicted of 3rd degree theft and driving under the influence (the same incident) and in 2010 Lewis was again convicted of driving under the influence.
*Correction: The victim’s first name is “Amiya” not “Amaya” as appears at the end of the video.
~~~
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your moving out that neighborhood now.. upstate somewhere
This poor dude should never have seen prison. He only went to prison because he is white
its just fucked up even if you are defending yourself your still going down with something lol thats just the law
hearing him cuss sounds like Ricky from Trailer Park Boys lol
With all the 'fucking' going on you would think he would not be so uptight
With ur permission, we out we got errythang we need dumb dumb
the nerve of this guy…..asking me questions about the wifi and his car again……damn people in this world.
Let him walk
I'm no psychic but you can kind of tell when someone's bullshytting about what they're saying. Very broad statements about what happened and none of it even makes sense I understand but everyone is as articulable as others but nothing he said detailed what really started it. I don't think this was a case of trying to be vague and not incriminate himself because he already did a good job of that especially speaking without a lawyer's advice.
After reading the description, this restitution debacle is a joke. The victims got less than $2k for almost being killed? I got $2300 (at $25 a month, again a joke) just for some guy stealing a few things from my open garage and him hitting the back of my car that occurred while chasing him. He paid a total of $100 and never received a single dollar after that. They don't even make these guys pay the restitution, but if they owe a state entity money, I guarntee they'll get that money.
I don't like the detectives making up his story for him. Let him tell his own story because all he is doing is saying yea that's what happened.
"Reverse Racism" doesn't exist.
"Fuckin fuckin fuckin fuckin fuckin."
Sounds like a couple of crack heads picked a fight with the wrong guy!
Dude is drunk and has PTSD. He should have had an attorney present.
Not the sniffles
Made the suspect watch the detective's shirt during the interrogation should be considered torture.
If you're getting interviewed while wearing a "bunny suit",
nothing good can come out of it.
Random question: Does anyone know what law enforcement usually keep in that zip up black binder that I constantly see in police interviews. im just really curious. I suppose notes but it looks like it has a few other notches
So Real World World police? Are you now bashing veterans involved in mutual combat – who was more than likely the non instigator?
I guess what I'm saying – what is the point? This has nothing to do with police misconduct or police impersonators or abuse of authority in any way shape or form.
He almost killed a black dude and her got off with less than 3 years even though he said he wanted to kill the victim
They sure are facing around the MBA topic 😂😂😂🤣😂😂
I support the medic.
Ah, fuck it whatever
Anything else you want to add to your statement?
Chocolate City sucks
Notice how halfway through the interview, the Investigator starts dropping f-bombs after this guy has been dropping f-bombs since the beginning. 😂
Talked himself straight into jail.
He would make a GREAT room mate!!
“Is it something you would have had in your house?.. Well yeah its a steak knifeâ€
He said chocolate city 🌆 🤣🤣🤣
he sez "ya, its a nice place" and that starts it right there…
Is it just me, or does this “Fine Citizen†has similar attributes to Ray Liotta from Goodfellas?
When get interrogated they put in a room, its freezing, they leave you there for 1, 2 , 3 hours. No food, no water nothing. And do that several times all day all night whatever it takes.
As soon as they read your rights conversation is or should be over.
Police are not your friends.