Santa Rosa fugitive arrested after chase

A federal fugitive with a history of arming himself and evading police led deputies on a dramatic chase through Middletown Thursday night, plowing his car through fences and ramming patrol vehicles before he was arrested, a Sonoma County sheriff's spokesman said Friday.

John Antone Beckwith, 32, of Santa Rosa, was spotted about 5:15 p.m. in a car near the dead end of Saint Stephens Avenue, Sgt. Shawn Murphy said.

Police, who had been looking for him, got a tip that he had been seen earlier in Clear Lake, Murphy said.

When detectives approached him, Beckwith fled, ramming one of their patrol vehicles and driving his car through a fence of a private home, Murphy said.

He continued through several other fences, emerging on Napa Avenue and crashing into an unmarked patrol car, Murphy said.

Beckwith attempted to get away but was blocked by other detectives and taken into custody after a short struggle, Murphy said.

He was booked into Lake County jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, felony evading, misdemeanor hit and run, misdemeanor resisting arrest.

He is being held on a federal no-bail warrant.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.