High Speed Chase Ends Near Ascend With Arrest Of Beulah Car Burglaries, Attempted Gun Shop Burglary Suspect

March 1, 2021

A high speed chase traveled through parts of Cantonment and Gonzalez Monday morning before ending near the entrance to Ascend Performance Materials on Old Chemstrand Road with the arrest of felony suspect on multiple charges.

Chance Gardner, 23, was charged with attempted armed burglary, fleeing and eluding, felony criminal mischief, a felony narcotics violation, and arrested on outstanding warrants for grand theft and vehicle burglaries. He remained in the Escambia County Jail without bond.

Friday morning, Gardner allegedly burglarized multiple vehicles in the 9400 block of Lutoo Lane, just south of Nine Mile Road at the Beulah Fire Station (surveillance photo below).

On Sunday, he allegedly used a stolen car in attempt to ram his way through the backdoors of Mike’s Gun Shop in the 8600 block of Pensacola Boulevard in Ensley, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. “He was unsuccessful in that attempt,” ECSO spokesperson Amber Southard said.

On Monday morning, ECSO deputy Darin Vought spotted Gardner driving  stolen vehicle in the area of Highway 95A and Old Chemstrand Road, and a pursuit ensued.

According to multiple North Escambia readers, the pursuit traveled down East Kingfield Road headed both east and then west. It came to an end just outside Ascend where it appeared the suspect vehicle came to a stop in a trailer parking area near the lake on the northeast side of Ascend Park. Gardner was captures without further incident. There were no injuries.

During the pursuit, Sgt. James Newton “bumped” Gardner’s vehicle near Ascend Park in an attempt to stop him. Gardner then backed into the sergeant’s vehicle. The cruiser was located on the shoulder of the road near the park with heavy damage to the push bar and hood (photo above).

“This is a criminal who has stolen guns, broken into numerous cars and placed residents at risk. We were not going to let him get away when we had the opportunity to put an end to his crime spree. We were able to end the pursuit, so he could no longer endanger and victimize the good people of Escambia County,” said Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

14 Responses to “High Speed Chase Ends Near Ascend With Arrest Of Beulah Car Burglaries, Attempted Gun Shop Burglary Suspect”

  1. Stumpknocker on March 4th, 2021 1:40 am

    @dnr so glad to hear your under your bed with your ak-47, please stay put, thanks.

  2. Sugarlips on March 3rd, 2021 5:05 pm

    Great job Escambia County deputies!
    GOD BLESS YOU ALL

  3. dnr on March 3rd, 2021 10:05 am

    @Stumpknocker – you are so correct, it is perfectly fine to chase someone with four 2 ton vehicles on a residential street at a very high rate of speed – Because No One Was Hurt. Unlike you, I witnessed this event and saw the danger that was unnecessarily created. The opportunity to have ended this was the dead end cul-de-sac with woods on two sides and a ditch on the other, it does not take a Law Enforcement Instructor to understand that. Maybe you should take a ride through neighborhood so you can actually understand the situation, but don’t look for me, I’ll be under my bed with my AK-47.

  4. World traveler on March 3rd, 2021 6:06 am

    @Duke of Wawbeek
    I realize you were “making a funny” but hope you realize Bolivia is a land locked country.

  5. Stumpknocker on March 2nd, 2021 6:28 pm

    @dnr nope your wrong, great job by Leo’s, no one was hurt. I’m sure with all your experience in law enforcement you could have done so much better. There is a reason they don’t pit immediately. This guy was a danger to society, our Leo’s deal with people that most people are to scared to, but don’t worry bad guy locked up so it’s safe for you to come from under your bed!!!!

  6. dnr on March 2nd, 2021 4:13 pm

    He never should have made it to the Ascend entry. He was traveling east on Kingsfield Rd and the idiot went straight through a RED traffic light at Chemstrand doing at least 70mph with four deputies in pursuit. This is a dead end street but some how he got turned around and got back out passed the four Chevy Tahoes in a small SUV with the deputies again behind him. Now they were all traveling west on Kingsfield Rd doing at least 80mph in a 35mph zone. This dangerous chase went on at least three miles longer than it should have been allowed to. Not such a great job

  7. Kevin J Kulback on March 2nd, 2021 12:13 pm

    I heard the many police vehicles wizzing by my house in the morning. I knew something unusual was going down, not just routine. You could just sense that. Nice job Escambia Police. They get it done! This is why I fund the police and first responders annually.

  8. paul on March 2nd, 2021 9:25 am

    LET HIM BE AN OLD MAN WHEN HE COMES UP FOR PAROLE.

  9. Duke of Wawbeek on March 2nd, 2021 8:18 am

    Catching a boat to Bolivia (via Buenos Aires) would have been a better venture for him.

  10. Evelyn Owen on March 2nd, 2021 7:48 am

    Mike’s Gun Shop’s outer walls were built by my late husband, Bill Owen, with rebar in the poured concrete wall panels. We knew it would withstand a cat 5 but I am happy it withstood a ramming vehicle. Would have loved to have seen his shocked face when it didn’t crumble!

  11. Whisperjet on March 2nd, 2021 7:20 am

    …great job LEO’s…this guy does not need to be on the street for a long , long time…

  12. MAH on March 2nd, 2021 7:12 am

    Something he needs before jail is he needs to have his butt whipped. That’s something I bet he’s never had.

  13. Rasheed Jackson on March 1st, 2021 5:35 pm

    Here we go again, the start of another life of crime. He looks like he has the “Gangsta” thug thing going. Yeah he bad that’s right he bad he bad. Now he gets to kiss the baby! Maybe he will go “Stir Crazy” while he is paying his debt to society.
    Of course society will be paying for him to do that time. We will also hire him an attorney, and supply him a multi million dollar complex to be used during for his defence.

  14. Rudy L Brown on March 1st, 2021 4:40 pm

    Great job guys!! Sheriff Simmons, great job bringing real law enforcement back to the county, thank you sir.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News