Marion County sheriff’s deputies received a tip Sunday that a white male suspect only known by the alias of “Gold Teeth” was en route to an address in Summerfield, in a white Dodge van, planning to commit a home invasion robbery.
Deputies began to search the area and located the subject vehicle and the driver, later identified at 28-year-old Scott Michael Beekman, in the parking lot of a convenience store located at SE Highway 47th Avenue and Highway 484. Beekman exited the location northbound on SE 47th Avenue, and deputies attempted a traffic stop, however, Beekman failed to stop. Beekman continued to flee, driving recklessly and endangering other motorists in the east and west bound lanes. A citizen motorist attempted to block the westbound lanes with his vehicle, which Beekman was able to avoid.
Beekman took multiple evasive measures and led deputies on a pursuit on SE Highway 484 and then northbound on Highway 467. Beekman’s vehicle then swerved abruptly at the 13000 block of SE Highway 467, struck a stop sign and a tree, overturned and finally came to a rest on the driver’s side. Beekman was then entrapped in the vehicle and the vehicle caught fire. Deputies carefully advanced towards the vehicle and tried to extinguish the fire and safely extract Beekman from the burning van. Once deputies were able to break the front window of the van, Beekman was pulled out of the vehicle and taken into custody. Marion County Fire Rescue firefighters arrived on scene and extinguished the fire. Deputies searched Beekman’s vehicle and found a loaded short-barreled shotgun, a loaded .32-caliber pistol and a loaded sawed-off .22-caliber rifle. All of the loaded guns were located near the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Beekman is a convicted felon and also has a suspended license.
Beekman was transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. He was later transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was booked on multiple charges.
