COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Police Department took a local man into custody after he fled officers for the second time in less than a month on Wednesday, September 10.
On August 23, Joshua Beck, 31 of 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. He was taken into custody near 450 South and Old Lane Rd. Beck was held in the Bartholomew County Jail until his bond was posted on September 2nd.
On September 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 that a woman was the passenger in a silver Kia and had been trying to get out, but the man who was driving would not let her. A CPD officer saw the vehicle near 8th Street and Washington Street and observed that Beck was the driver. When the officer attempted to stop the car, it stopped momentarily, but then took off. Officers pursued the Kia through Columbus and onto I-65 Southbound. Beck eventually gave up near the 50-mile marker of I-65.
After the vehicle stopped, officers found suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and a pipe, but they believe Beck
attempted to destroy some of the drugs. Officers also found that there was a protective order protecting the passenger from Beck. 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, an A misdemeanor
- Possession of Marijuana, a B misdemeanor
- Possession of Paraphernalia, a B misdemeanor
- Reckless Driving, a C misdemeanor
