Total Pro Sports
Rita Benson LeBlanc, once considered the future of the New Orleans Saints franchise, found herself in handcuffs this week after an incident that’s now the talk of the town.
Police arrested the 48-year-old granddaughter of late Saints owner Tom Benson on Monday evening in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, after she allegedly clashed with a parking enforcement officer.
Police took LeBlanc into custody around 6:30 p.m. local time following a reported altercation that escalated quickly. At the heart of the incident was a confrontation involving a parking boot, and things reportedly turned physical.
According to a police spokesperson, officers responded to reports that LeBlanc pushed a parking officer during an encounter on the street. The officer had been applying a boot to a vehicle when the former Saints executive allegedly intervened and even took the officer’s boot locking tool.
Fox News Digital confirmed through Charleston police that the charge listed against LeBlanc was “Assault/Resist/Hinder/Oppose/Interfere with Officer/City Employee.” Authorities did not clarify whether the vehicle involved belonged to LeBlanc herself.
LeBlanc, once groomed to take the reins of the New Orleans Saints organization, has not held a leadership role with the team in over a decade. In 2014, the Saints dismissed her from her executive position, and she later lost her place in the team’s succession plan. After Tom Benson’s passing in 2018, his widow, Gayle Benson, became the franchise’s controlling owner.
This week’s incident isn’t her first brush with high-profile headlines, but it’s undoubtedly her most serious legal issue. The arrest adds another twist to a public figure whose connection to the NFL once placed her at the center of one of the league’s storied franchises.
Charleston police have confirmed that LeBlanc will appear in court next month. As of now, she has not made any public statement regarding the incident.
Also Read: Former NFL Heiress Arrested In Charleston After Attacking A Parking Official
