Rita Benson LeBlanc, the granddaughter of late New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, was arrested in South Carolina following an alleged altercation with a parking enforcement officer. The incident, which occurred in downtown Charleston, led to her being charged with ‘Assault/Resist/Hinder/Oppose/Interfere with Officer/City Employee.’ According to the Charleston Police Department, she was arrested on Monday evening and released on a personal recognizance bond the following morning.
The arrest stemmed from an altercation where LeBlanc reportedly pushed an officer while the officer was applying a parking boot to her vehicle. Additionally, she was alleged to have taken the officer’s parking boot locking tool during the interaction. The exact circumstances of the incident remain under investigation, with authorities confirming that the officer was attempting to place a boot on LeBlanc’s car.
LeBlanc was previously an executive and co-owner of the newly formed Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, but she was removed from her role by her grandfather, Tom Benson, in 2014. Following Tom Benson’s death in 2018, his wife, Gayle Benson, assumed the role of principal owner of both teams and has maintained control over the franchises. The legal and personal fallout from her removal has shaped her current circumstances, including this latest incident.
LeBlanc is scheduled to appear in court next month, and the case will likely continue to draw public attention given her family’s prominence in the sports industry. The incident highlights the legal challenges and personal struggles she faces as she navigates her current situation.