Beck
A local man is again in custody after fleeing from Columbus police officers for the second time in less than a month.
On Aug. 23, Joshua Beck, 31 of 1035 Sycamore St., Columbus, was arrested and then formally charged with resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, a Level 6 felony, possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and obstruction of justice, a Level 6 felony. Officers had stopped Beck for a traffic infraction, but he fled in his vehicle, said Lt. Skylar Berry, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
Beck was taken into custody near County Road 450S and Old Lane Road, Berry said, and was held in the Bartholomew County Jail until his bond was posted on Sept. 2.
On Sept. 10, CPD officers were called to the downtown area after a concerned citizen reported a possible domestic disturbance in a vehicle. The witness told dispatch a woman was the passenger in a silver Kia and had been trying to get out, but the man that was driving would not let her. A CPD officer saw the vehicle near 8th Street and Washington Street, and saw that Beck was the driver, Berry said.
When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, it stopped momentarily, but then took off. Officers pursued the Kia through Columbus and onto I-65 Southbound. Several other law enforcement agencies assisted and Beck eventually gave up near the 50-mile marker of I-65, Berry said.
After the vehicle stopped, officers found suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and a pipe, but they believe Beck attempted to destroy some of the drugs, Berry said. Officers also found that there was a protective order protecting the passenger from Beck. Fortunately, the passenger was not seriously injured and was able to be released from the scene. After gathering more evidence, Beck was arrested for the preliminary charges of:
- Criminal confinement, a Level 5 felony
- Domestic battery, a Level 6 felony,
- Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony
- Resisting law enforcement in a vehicle, a Level 6 felony
- Obstruction of justice, a Level 6 felony
- Invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor
- Possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor
- Possession of paraphernalia, a Class B misdemeanor
- Reckless driving, a Class C misdemeanor
Beck remains in the Bartholomew County Jail, held with no bond.
