A 21-year-old Belleview man was arrested over the weekend after he was accused of battering his pregnant girlfriend and threatening her with a firearm.
On Saturday, February 24, at around 5:40 p.m., a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local residence in reference to a possible stabbing incident. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with a man, identified as Roy Russell Beam, Jr., who was bleeding from his forehead, according to the arrest report.
The deputy noted in the report that Beam’s injuries were not consistent with a stabbing. Beam stated that his “old lady” had struck him in the head with an unknown object before leaving the incident location.
Beam claimed that he had gotten into an argument with his pregnant girlfriend, identified in the report as the victim. During the verbal altercation, Beam stated that the victim “became enraged” and began striking him before trying to “harm herself.”
Beam told the deputy that he grabbed the victim’s arms to “prevent her from harming the baby,” and that was when the victim struck him in the head with an unknown item. He refused to provide the victim’s name because he did not want to “get her in trouble,” according to the report.
The victim was located by law enforcement in the 4600 block of SE 102nd Place in Belleview, and the deputy responded to that location. After making contact with the victim, the deputy noted in the report that she had numerous fresh bruises, red marks, redness on her face, and abrasions on her feet, legs, arms, and hands. She was also “visibly pregnant.”
According to the victim’s statement, she had gotten into a “heated” argument with Beam over their relationship. She stated that she gathered her belongings and attempted to leave the residence, but Beam prevented her from doing so.
The victim claimed that Beam began “striking (her) in the face with open hands” and grabbed her arms to prevent her from escaping. While Beam was allegedly battering her, she stated that she attempted to call 911, but Beam snatched her smartphone ($800 value) and slammed it on several different surfaces, according to the report.
During the altercation, the victim claimed that Beam struck her multiple times, threw her to the ground at least once, and then pulled out a pistol from his waistband and “cocked” it. He then allegedly told her, “I’ll (expletive) kill you” multiple times, which made the victim fear for her safety. The report stated that the victim was able to get her phone back, and she struck Beam’s forehead with it in self-defense.
The victim told the deputy that she grabbed a kitchen knife to defend herself at one point during the incident. Near the end of the interview, the deputy observed that the victim’s injuries were “noticeably worse,” and additional injuries were found on her back.
The deputy made contact with Beam at a local hospital. After being read his Miranda rights, Beam denied striking the victim. He admitted to having a pistol in his waistband during the incident, though he claimed he only “removed” it when the victim had a knife in her hand, according to the report.
Beam denied pointing the firearm at the victim, and he stated that the victim may have “given herself the injuries.” The report stated that based on the deputy’s experience, the victim’s injuries did not appear to be self-inflicted.
Beam was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held on $41,000 bond. He is facing the following charges: aggravated battery on a pregnant victim; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill; false imprisonment of an adult; hindering, delaying, or preventing the communication to a law enforcement officer of information relating to the commission or possible commission of an offense; and criminal mischief with property damage over $200 but less than $1,000.
A court date has been scheduled at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, according to jail records.