By Shereen Siewert
A 28-year-old Rothschild man is facing felony charges after he allegedly threatened to kill a former girlfriend and led police on a high speed chase through Rothschild and Weston.
Matthew J. Clawson faces charges of fleeing an officer, criminal damage to property, criminal trespassing, disorderly conduct and bail jumping in connection with the May 27 incident. He was also cited with operating after revocation and speeding, according to the Rothschild Police report.
According to the criminal complaint:
Everest Metro Police were called at 8:31 a.m. Saturday to a home in the village of Weston, where a woman reported that Clawson had broken into her apartment while she was asleep. The woman told police Clawson, who was armed with a knife, slashed her tires and threatened to shoot her. The woman believed Clawson was headed to his Rothschild home to arm himself with a shotgun.
Rothschild police located Clawson in his vehicle near his Military Road home and tried to pull him over. Clawson refused to stop, driving down Weston Avenue at speeds of between 50 and 60 mph before turning onto Hwy. X and eventually Hwy. 29, where he was driving at speeds of between 110 and 120 mph, according to the police report. Police from three agencies chased Clawson until he exited the highway and was eventually stopped on Brehm Street in Weston, near the woman’s residence.
Clawson was arrested after a brief standoff. A loaded shotgun was in the vehicle.
Official charges were filed May 30. Future court dates have not yet been set.
