COLUMBUS, Ind. — A Columbus man has been charged with resisting law enforcement and other felony counts after he allegedly fled from police for the second time in less than a month.
According to the Columbus Police Department, 31-year-old Joshua Beck was arrested on Sept. 10, marking the second time he led police on a chase within weeks of each other.
The first instance allegedly occurred on Aug. 23 when officers stopped Beck for a reported traffic violation. CPD said Beck reportedly failed to stop, leading officers on a chase. He was eventually taken into custody near 450 South and Old Lane Road.
He remained in the Bartholomew County Jail on resisting law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine and obstruction of justice charges until his bond was posted on Sept. 2.
Eight days later, CPD said Beck was again involved in a police chase after officers were called to the downtown area in response to a possible domestic disturbance. The caller reported to dispatch at the time that a woman was a passenger in a silver Kia and was reportedly attempting to exit the vehicle. However, Beck allegedly prevented her from doing so.
An officer then observed Beck’s vehicle near 8th Street and Washington Street after determining that Beck was behind the wheel. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, CPD said Beck sped away. The chase eventually spilled onto I-65 southbound, where additional law enforcement agencies assisted.
Beck was later taken into custody near the 50-mile marker on I-65. CPD said officers seized suspected methamphetamine, marijuana and a pipe from Beck’s vehicle, which they said he allegedly attempted to destroy.
CPD noted the female passenger did not suffer any serious injuries and was released after being assessed on the scene. Following this second chase, Beck now faces the following preliminary charges:
• Criminal Confinement (Level 5 Felony)
• Domestic Battery (Level 6 Felony)
• Possession of Methamphetamine (Level 6 Felony)
• Resisting Law Enforcement in a Vehicle (Level 6 Felony)
• Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony)
• Invasion of Privacy (Class A Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Paraphernalia (Class B Misdemeanor)
• Reckless Driving (Class C Misdemeanor)
Beck is scheduled to appear in Bartholomew Superior Court 2 on Nov. 10 for a jury trial in connection with the preliminary charges that were filed against him on Aug. 23.
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