A Mercer County man was arrested on Saturday, February 21 after allegedly leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit which left three officers injured. Matthew James Davis, 34, of Princeton, has been charged with driving while suspended, driving while revoked for DUI, Dui resulting in injuries, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, fleeing while DUI, fleeing with reckless indifference, obstructing, assaulting an officer and assault during the commission of a felony. Additional felony charges are also pending.
On the morning of Tuesday, February 16, officers were dispatched to Kegley Tire in Princeton to investigate reports of a parked Toyota Camry containing two occupants who appeared to have overdosed. Employees of Kegley Tire advised that the vehicle’s occupants were unresponsive.
According to the criminal complaint, once on-scene, officers located the vehicle, finding a male (later identified as Davis) unresponsive in the driver seat and a female (later identified as Maranda Ellis) unresponsive in the passenger seat.
The complaint states that when Ellis “would raise her head up, her eyes would roll back and she would pass out again”.
After several attempts, officers were able to awaken Davis and Ellis, at which point officers ordered them to unlock the vehicle’s doors. Davis complied, and advised officers that he was waiting to purchase a tire for his vehicle. However, Davis allegedly refused to state his name or provide officers with identification.
Officers then ordered Davis to exit the vehicle, but, according to the criminal complaint, Davis refused to comply with the order and started the engine. Officers then opened the driver-side door, at which point Davis allegedly put the vehicle in reverse and accelerated with one officer halfway in the vehicle. Davis then reportedly backed the vehicle into a ditch, and then out across US Route 19, throwing the officer from the moving vehicle in the process. Upon hitting the road surface, the officer was reportedly knocked unconscious. Davis then allegedly sped away with additional officers in pursuit. The complaint states that Davis reached speeds of over 90-miles per hour with a flat rear-tire.
Once on County Route 71, officers were able to catch up with Davis, striking his car with their own and forcing it to a stop. Officers then successfully apprehended Davis and transported him to the Mercer County Sheriff’s office for questioning. Davis was reportedly “non-compliant and argumentative” while being interviewed, and refused to submit to a DRE (Drug Recognition Expert) evaluation. Officers then obtained a warrant permitting the testing of Davis’ blood, and transported him to Princeton Community Hospital for the blood-draw.
According to the criminal complaint, during evaluation, Davis fled the hospital. During the course of their investigation, officers further learned that Davis had an outstanding Circuit Court Capias in Mercer County.
An arrest warrant was then issued for Davis. He has since been re-captured, and is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
The West Virginia Daily News will provide updates on this developing situation as additional details are made available.
