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IPSWICH — A job interview at Ipswich Town Hall didn’t work out quite as planned for one applicant.

In a recent case at Ipswich District Court, Judge Peter Doyle was told that the potential employer was so concerned about one candidate that he called police.

The interviewee was Michael P. Benson, 58, of 6 McDewell Ave., Danvers, according to court records.

And his trip to Ipswich resulted in a charge of operating under the influence of liquor, second offense, records said.

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The drama started at roll call in the police station at around 4 p.m. on February 19, when chief Paul Nikas walked in and asked for two officers, according to the report written by officer Brian Reed.

Nikas told them that the town manager, Tony Marino, had just interviewed Benson, and the applicant appeared to be drunk, the report said.

With a description in hand, police headed to town hall on Green Street, which is just a short distance from the police station on Elm Street, Reed said.

Police stopped Benson’s car in the parking lot and ran him through field sobriety tests before arresting him, the report said.

He was later found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.22 percent, police said.

Benson was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended for two years; and lost his license for two years, court records said.

He was also ordered to pay $250 to the head injury fund, $50 to the OUI victims’ fund and $50 to the victims’ fund; he was enrolled in a 14-day inpatient program; and was ordered to undergo an evaluation, records said.

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