Bloomfield man accused of attempted murder
A Bloomfield man is accused of attempted murder for allegedly making numerous threats against his ex and her new boyfriend then traveling to the boyfriend's rural Worthington home where he crashed his truck into the house and used a lot of ammo that left bullet holes in an exterior door and shot up windows, furniture and glass. The couple and a young child left the home before he arrived and were not injured.
Matthew J. York, 44, Bloomfield, was arrested by Detective Shawn Cullison of the Greene County Sheriff's Department early Tuesday, December 27, following an incident that occurred on Monday, December 26.
York’s ex-wife first contacted the Greene County Sheriff's Department at 7:12 PM on Monday, saying her child's father was threatening to kill her and her current boyfriend. At that time they were at her boyfriend's residence on North County Road 475 West in the Worthington area.
Deputy Caleb Sipes was dispatched and while he was enroute, she was receiving messages from York asking for the location of their son. She told him their son was safe but York wanted his exact location and said he was coming to get his son.
After Deputy Sipes arrived at the residence, York called again and the phone was placed on speakerphone so the deputy could hear the conversation. York said he was a mile away and was coming to “fix this situation.”
After that phone call, the woman, the boyfriend and a young child left the home to go stay with a friend while Deputy Sipes stayed at the residence to see if York would come. By 8:45 PM, York had not arrived.
That was not the end of the incident because there was a security camera on the property and at 11:16 PM, the woman told the sheriff's eepartment they believed York was at the residence because they could see a vehicle in the driveway on the security system camera. At 11:25 PM, they also said he had fired a gun and had entered the residence.
By 11:35 PM, a contingent of law enforcement officers had arrived at the residence including GCSD Deputy Sergeant Jordan Allor and Deputy Sipes plus officers from the Bloomfield Police Department, the Linton Police Department and the Worthington Police Department.
When they arrived, they found a black GMC Canyon truck crashed into the front corner of the residence with license plate information that showed the truck belonged to York.
They also found a side door that was open but they did not find York inside the house. Officers then began searching the area and found York walking on CR 400 N just west of CR 475 W about 1200 feet away from the house.
York had a black and tan Kimber 45 caliber handgun on his person and near the intersection of CR 400 N and CR 475 W they found a CGGG M45 caliber AR style pistol just off the roadway in a wooded area.
Sergeant Allor reported York appeared to be intoxicated with the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him and slurred speech. He also had small lacerations on his forehead and was transported to Greene County General Hospital for medical treatment.
Later when Detective Cullison arrived at the house to talk to the couple and several other family members, he learned York had earlier stated he was going to kill the boyfriend and he had made numerous threatening statements over the phone. In addition to witness testimony, he was also provided with text messages and phone logs. One of the witnesses had received a call from York at 10:58 PM and she recorded it.
Detective Cullison reported that when he looked around the house, there were several bullet holes through an exterior door and door frame, the glass was knocked out of the door and the door must have been kicked in - the door frame was split and the trim along the door was torn down. The front porch had been destroyed and there was possible damage to the foundation of the house. He also saw several bullet holes in the kitchen table and chairs, two bullet holes in a closet door, another bullet hole in a bedroom door, a large plant had bullet holes through its leaves, and a large glass dish had been shot leaving glass all over the top of a table. Deputies recovered 12 spent 45 caliber shell casings from the back door area of the home.
When the couple was asked what they thought York's reasons were for coming to the house that night, they said to kill them and take the child. The woman said York had threatened to kill any guy that she has talked to.
When Detective Cullison went to Greene County General to interview York and ask him what happened, York allegedly said he had a bad night. When asked to give more details, York said he did not want to answer any questions.
Sergeant Allor, who completed the accident report about the truck being wrecked into the house, reported York refused to take a chemical test but a blood draw was completed at the hospital - results pending.
After medical clearance, York was arrested by Detective Cullison and booked into the Greene County Jail at 6:56 AM. He was being held without bond pending court appearance.
York is currently scheduled to appear in Greene Superior Court for his initial hearing at 10:30 AM on January 3.
The Greene County Prosecutors Office filed a criminal case against York earlier today, December 28, on charges of:
Attempted murder - attempted intentional killing of another person, a Level 1 felony,
Burglary with a deadly weapon, a Level 2 felony,
Criminal recklessness - defendant shoots a firearm into a building, a Level 5 felony,
Criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, a Level 6 felony,
Intimidation - drawing or using a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony,
Intimidation - drawing or using a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony,
Criminal mischief with damage between $750 and $50,000, a Class A misdemeanor,
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor, and
Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor.