Marion deputies save suspect from fiery crash after chase

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A suspect in a home invasion was rescued Sunday by Marion County deputies after a car chase ended in a fiery crash, the Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies received a tip Sunday that Scott Beekman, 28, known as "Gold Teeth," was on his way to Summerfield to commit an armed home invasion.

Beekman was spotted in his white Dodge van near Southeast 47th Avenue and Highway 484 and deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect fled in his vehicle, authorities said.

A motorist attempted to block Beekman with their truck, according to the Sheriff's Office. Deputies pursued Beekman north on Highway 467, where the Dodge van swerved, hit a stop sign and a tree and flipped, catching fire. Beekman was trapped inside the burning van.

Deputies broke the front windshield of the van to get Beekman out and take him into custody.

A deputy’s dash camera video captured the pursuit and the suspect's rescue. It took four deputies to break the window and get Beekman out.

“You’re about to F—blow up, you’re going to burn to death,” a deputy said when Beekman resisted getting out of the burning vehicle.

“What’s hurting right now, buddy?” another deputy asks the suspect after he was pulled from the crash.

“Why didn’t I just stay home?” Beekman said.

A loaded short-barreled shotgun, a loaded .32-caliber pistol and a loaded .22-caliber rifle with the barrel sawed off were found in the front seat of Beekman's van, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Beekman was treated at a hospital and later released to the Marion County Jail. He is charged with fleeing with disregard to safety, three counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of a short-barreled gun and driving while his license was suspended.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods commended his deputies and citizens for their actions.

“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.”

Authorities also said they were able to stop the would-be robber after getting help from the community.

"The citizens that assisted us, it's unbelievable to see everything come together in action," said Lauren Lettelier, the public information officer for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

First, deputies received a tip and followed up on it. Then, during the pursuit, a driver in a red pickup with a trailer attached tried to block the van's path. The van appeared to have just missed it.

"What kind of a person that is to selflessly do that, to put themselves at risk like that to help us, the law enforcement officers," Lettelier said.

The van then took deputies to Highway 467, where the driver crashed. Shortly after, a driver in a pickup truck is seen blocking the road to oncoming traffic.

"To have the wherewithal to think about that during a situation, that is extraordinary," Lettelier said. "To have those eyes, that is what we need nowadays and that's what we have in Marion County."

The sheriff's office pointed out that it encourages people to be safe and move out of the way of traffic if they see deputies pursuing a suspect with their lights and sirens active.

"Our citizens’ safety is of the utmost importance to us," Lettelier said. "However, we do appreciate the efforts taken by these citizens who did what they could to help us."

Watch the full dash camera video below: