Dramatic dash cam video shows the moment sheriff’s deputies in Florida pulled the suspect who was leading them on a police pursuit out of a burning vehicle.
On Sunday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that a man with the alias “Gold Teeth” was en route in a white Dodge van to rob a home in Summerfield, Florida, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Sheriff’s Deputies began to search the area and located a vehicle matching the description in the parking lot of a convenience store.
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The driver, identified as 28-year-old Scott Michael Beekman, fled the scene and led police on a pursuit, “driving recklessly” and “endangering other motorist,” police said.
A citizen who noticed the police pursuit attempted to block a lane with his vehicle, but Beekman was able to avoid him, according to the sheriff’s office.
After leading sheriff’s deputies on several different roads, Beekman swerved the van and struck a stop sign and tree, police said. The van then overturned and rested on the driver’s side before it caught fire.
The video shows two sheriff’s deputies “carefully” approaching the van with their guns drawn while another run to the other side of the vehicle with a fire extinguisher to deter the flames.
The officers then broke through the windshield and pulled Beekman out. After searching the van, they found a loaded short-barreled shotgun, a loaded .32 caliber pistol and a loaded sawed-off .22 caliber rifle, which were all located near the front seat of the van.
Beekman is a convicted felon and also had a suspended license.
Beekman was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries before he was booked into the Marion County Jail. He was charged with fleeing with disregard for safety of person or property, three counts of possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon, possession of s short barreled gun, rifle or machine gun and driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods praised the efforts of the deputies and the citizens who stepped in to help.
“The deputies involved in the search, the pursuit and the rescue of this suspect performed their duties valiantly,” Woods said. “They not only prevented what could have been a major crime, but they also saved this individual’s life despite the danger involved. We are also thankful for the citizens who jumped into action to help our law enforcement. They are all heroes and we are proud to have these deputies serving the citizens of Marion County.”
(H/T: First Coast News)
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