The Benton family believes they are being bullied by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in the most disturbing way.
Since ODOT released plans for a new highway that would run directly through their family-owned auto shop, Benton's Service Center, they've been regularly harassed by ODOT attorneys.
Perhaps the most horrible manifestation of the bullying was in the destruction of a beloved family member's grave. Dexter was a Labrador mix, a beloved member of the Benton family, and the unofficial mascot for their business.
“Everyone knew him, loved him,” says 13-year-old Jackson Benton in the video below.
When Dexter passed away, they handcrafted a wooden cross for his grave. However, two attorneys from ODOT completely destroyed the cross.
“He just pushed it over and started kicking it around,” Jackson says of the attorney. “Then threw it about five to 10 feet.”
Though it's difficult to admit, government officials don't always have our best interests in mind. A retired couple was nearly made homeless when their mobile home didn't meet certain guidelines.
Don Benton, the auto shop's owner and the family's father, didn't see the act, but came out seconds after the ruckus.
"We came out and asked them what they were doing," he says. "They said it was ODOT property [and] 'we can do anything we want to.'"
While ODOT now has eminent domain over the highway, and thus the auto shop, the Benton family feels this all could have been handled with a little bit more grace.
“We felt like we’ve been bullied through this whole process,” Don says. “It’s just another example of the way they do business, ya know.”
Please SHARE if you think these lawyers should have respected Dexter's grave!
