Matthew Pittman

Name:
Pittman, Matthew

Date of Booking:
08/15/2022

Reason(s) For Booking:
OBSTRUCTING PERSON TO MAKE 911 CALL

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

OBSTRUCTION OFFICER – MISD

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING (FVA) – DAMAGE OF PROPERTY

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the officer’s narrative report. We do not fix any spelling or grammatical errors. Any changes made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on August 15, 2022]

On August 15, 2022, at approximately 9:43 PM, dispatch advised of a fight in progress located outside of [1600 BLOCK] Shadowbrook Drive. While en route, the caller attempted to cancel the call, stating it was people laughing.

Myself and Deputy Hester arrived on the scene and witnessed multiple people outside in the front yard flagging us down. I could smell a heavy odor of alcohol but could not pinpoint it to a specific person. A male, later identified as Matthew Pittman spontaneously uttered something along the lines of “here, have your phone back.” He handed a phone back to the original caller of 911, [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] is Matthew’s step-dad. A female, later identified as Helen Hawkins had blood inside of her mouth.

While I was trying to separate the parties, Matthew was seen running into the opened garage. Deputy Hester ordered him to stop and he refused to comply. Deputy Hester and I followed Matthew into the garage while giving loud verbal commands to stop and answer our questions. He continued to refuse to cooperate, putting bicycles and kayaks in between us to get away. While attempting to talk to Matthew, his mother Helen entered the garage and grabbed Deputy Hester’s arm. I told Helen to get her hand off of Deputy Hester and for her to leave the garage. She refused and stated it was her garage.

As we advanced on Matthew, Helen was trying to get involved, yelling and instigating Matthew. At one point, Matthew asked Helen if she wanted him to “just fight them”, referring to us. Deputy Hester detained Helen and told her to sit down on a chair. While Matthew was in a corner, we were able to secure him in handcuffs and detain him. We had him sit down on the concrete and tried to ask him questions. Helen stood up multiple times and attempted to lunge at us. After the third or fourth time, I escorted Helen to my patrol car. Deputy Gergans searched her incident to arrest and she was placed in the back seat of my patrol car.

I tried asking Matthew what happened, but he refused to cooperate. At one point he stated he was “murdered and killed by law enforcement” and he does not trust us. He continually yelled at [VICTIM #1], who was standing outside on his porch. Matthew was arrested and set inside a patrol car. Helen was still yelling from within my patrol car, instigating parties outside, so I transported Helen to the Adult Detention Center.

While en route, Helen attempted to talk about the incident after she was arrested, I told her I would read her Miranda Warning when we arrived at the jail. We arrived at the ADC and I completed the necessary book in paperwork. I transported Helen, Deputy Hester transported Matthew and Deputy Gergans transported Kathleen Pittman. I Mirandized Helen and she stated she wanted to talk to me.

Helen stated the following: Her son’s girlfriend, Kathleen Pittman, was outside their house looking for her backpack. She began to scream because she could not find it. Helen called her parents and asked if they could pick her up because she was intoxicated. She walked outside and confronted Kathleen. When she did, she accused Helen of stealing her backpack. Kathleen yelled “you bit*h” and punched her in the face several times. Helen mentioned she has seen Kathleen sober only a hand few times.

I tried to take pictures of Helen’s injuries but she would not cooperate and not sit still. I was cleared by the intake deputies and I searched the backseat of my patrol car for any contraband, finding none. I will be uploading the photos to the case folder.

Helen Hawkins and being charged with Obstruction and Disorderly Conduct due to her willfully hindering and preventing us from conducting our investigation during the incident. She was also acting in a tumultuous manner by constantly yelling and trying to instigate more fighting.

Matthew Pittman is being charged with Obstruction due to him running into a garage away from the scene and refusing to cooperate with our investigation. Disorderly Conduct due to him yelling at [VICTIM #1] and other parties on the scene in an attempt to instigate more fighting. Interfering with a 911 call due to him grabbing [VICTIM #1]’s phone out of his hand while making a 911 call and trying to cancel the call, stating it was just laughing. Criminal Trespass due to him interring with [VICTIM #1]’s possession of his cell phone.

I obtained an arrest warrant (CE0131906) for Helen Hawkins. Deputy Gergans obtained an arrest warrant for Matthew and Kathleen. Refer to her supplemental for further.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on August 15, 2022]

On August 15, 2022, while on patrol I was AVL (automatic vehicle location) to [1600 BLOCK] Shadowbrook Drive in reference to a fight in progress between two females. Dispatch went on to say two males were also involved in the fight.

I arrived on scene simultaneously with Deputy Demaskey. Several individuals were arguing in the driveway of the home. The fight was clearly over. As Deputy Demaskey and I were getting everyone calm one of the males, later identified as Matthew Pittman, ducked back behind one of the vehicles and began running towards the open garage. I ordered him to come back to me and he continued into the garage. He told me I could not come into his garage. I informed him I was legally there and I could.

His mother, Helen Hawkins, followed us into the garage. Deputy Demaskey also came into the garage. There were tools and other items in the garage that could easily be used as a weapon. For this reason, I unholstered my taser and held it behind my leg out of sight in case Matthew picked up a weapon. We tried to reason with Matthew and Helen. Neither of which would stop talking or obey our lawful commands.

As we were trying to get Matthew to calm down and come out of the garage Helen continued to touch me and interfere with me as I attempted to reason with Matthew. I holstered my taser at this point. Matthew stated he had several negative encounters with law enforcement and would not stop talking. Helen continued to interfere with us attempting to reason with Matthew. I gave her several orders to exit the garage. She continued to talk and did not obey my orders to leave the garage. I raised my voice and ordered her again to leave the garage. She still would not comply.

I told Deputy Demaskey to keep eyes on Matthew and I handcuffed Helen and sat her down in a chair that was in the garage. I then went and assisted Deputy Demaskey in detaining Matthew. Even after being handcuffed and ordered to sit, Helen continued to disobey my orders. “[REDACTED],” the stepfather, came to the entrance of the garage and Matthew began arguing with [REDACTED]. I asked [REDACTED] to go somewhere else in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. It was at this time other units arrived and we were able to maintain order with the situation. I requested EMS to the scene for Helen. I could see blood in her mouth where she had been struck.

I attempted to ask Kathleen Pittman, about her fight with Helen. She stated at one-point Matthew picked her up and put her into a vehicle. Kathleen was very impaired and was difficult to understand. She said Matthew had taken her belongings and hid them from her so she would not leave. She told me she is going to rehab in the morning. When she attempted to leave he picked her up and would not allow her to leave. Kathleen was so impaired she could not answer my questions.

I then spoke with Kathleen’s father, [VICTIM #2]. He stated the following: They had told Kathleen she couldn’t stay there anymore if she did not go to rehab. [VICTIM #2] had called his wife, [VICTIM #3]. They had been on the phone for about an hour. During the conversation, [VICTIM #3] said they are yelling and she hung up. When they arrived on the scene Helen and Kathleen had gotten into a physical fight. He did not know why they were fighting. They had to separate them several times. Then Matthew came out and stated he was done with this. Matthew then picked Kathleen up and physically put her into the truck.

After further investigation by the deputies on the scene, it was determined that Helen, Matthew, and Kathleen were all being arrested for several different charges. I checked Matthew’s handcuffs for proper fit and double-locked them. I then escorted him to the front of my patrol car. As I was escorting him to my patrol car, he turned and asked me if we had already charged him with obstruction. I told him yes. He said so it doesn’t matter if “I get turned up”. I could feel his arm muscles tense up. I told him it would change the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Once at my car I searched his person. During this search, I found no contraband or weapons. I then placed him in the rear seat of my patrol car. I transported Matthew to the Cherokee County Adult detention center without incident. I turned him over to the jail deputies. I then conducted a contraband search of my rear seat and found none. I completed the proper booking paperwork and returned to service.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #3 on August 15, 2022]

On August 15, 2022, I responded to [1600 BLOCK] Shadowbrook Drive in reference to a fight in progress. While en route, I heard Deputy Hester and Deputy Demaskey call out on the radio that they were on scene. As I proceeded to the residence, Deputy Demaskey and Deputy Hester were not responding to their radio checks. This is highly unusual and indicative that something is wrong.

I arrived on scene and found Kathleen Pittman sitting at the bottom of the driveway with her parents, [VICTIM #3] and [VICTIM #2]. I could not see Deputy Hester or Deputy Demaskey but I heard shouting from the garage of the residence. [VICTIM #3] kept screaming “help”, when asked what she needed help with, she screamed “everything”. I told her to stop screaming and to wait at the bottom of the driveway. [VICTIM #3] continued to scream for no reason and was aggressive and hostile towards deputies. I gave her another order to stop screaming or she would be detained and placed in the back of a patrol car. She immediately calmed down.

Kathleen appeared to be intoxicated and claimed she has to go to Rehab tomorrow. She had slurred speech and was swaying as she sat on the ground. Deputy Bomeisl and Corporal Lonberg arrived on scene. I asked them to wait with [VICTIM #3], [VICTIM #2], and Kathleen while I checked on Deputy Demaskey and Deputy Hester. I went to the garage and located Deputy Hester and Deputy Demaskey had an older female, identified as Helen Hawkins, and Helen’s son, Matthew Pittman, detained in handcuffs.

Both Helen and Matthew were shouting and being non-compliant. Both were shouting profanities and refusing to cooperate with our investigation. Helen was placed in a rocking chair in the garage. She repeatedly got up and lunged toward deputies at least twice, who were trying to get Matthew under control. We repeatedly asked both of them to stop yelling and attempted to de-escalate them.

Neither wanted to cooperate and continued to scream over us when we spoke. Helen and Matthew appeared to be fueling one another’s temper. If one began to calm down, the other would start back up again. After multiple commands and warnings to sit down and stop interfering, Helen was then escorted to Deputy Demaskey’s patrol vehicle and placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct and Obstruction (misdemeanor). I searched her incident to arrest and found no contraband before placing her in the backseat of Deputy Demaskey’s patrol car.

I came back to the house and interviewed Helen’s husband, [VICTIM #1], who was standing on the front porch. [VICTIM #1] stated the following: He is the stepfather of Matthew since Matthew was 4 years old. He is currently married to Helen Hawkins. He lives in the same house with Helen and Matthew, however, Kathleen does not live there with them. Matthew and Kathleen have been dating. She has a history of assaulting Matthew. He told Matthew he didn’t want Kathleen coming over to the house and that if she shows up, he will call the police.

Matthew showed up at the house with Kathleen. They were screaming and arguing in the driveway. Helen went outside to separate them when Kathleen lunged and attacked Helen by hitting her. The two women were split up but then reengaged in a physical altercation. He called 911 for help to get them under control. Matthew snatched the phone out of his hand when he was on the phone with 911. Matthew knew he was on the phone with 911. Matthew then told the 911 dispatcher that there was no fight and everyone was laughing, asking for dispatch to cancel any responding units. Matthew refused to return the phone and quickly returned the phone to him only when law enforcement arrived.

After Helen was assessed by Cherokee Fire and EMS for her injuries, I went and spoke with her. I asked if she wanted to prosecute Kathleen and she stated she did. Helen had a torn shirt and busted lip sustained from the fight between the two women. While Helen was in the back of the patrol car, [VICTIM #1] kept leaving the front porch and attempting to go to Helen. We had to give a few orders for him to get back to the porch and away from the other parties involved so we could maintain control of the scene.

I asked Kathleen if she wanted to prosecute Helen for the fight, and she stated “no”. She confirmed she did not reside at the Shadowbrook address but stated she was with her parents and listed their address as the best contact for her. I then spoke with the other deputies on scene and notified them of the charges I was aware of and the reasoning for such. They notified Matthew he was under arrest and escorted him to the back of Deputy Hester’s patrol vehicle. While Matthew was walking to the patrol car, he screamed “I hate you” to [VICTIM #1].

As he walked past Deputy Demaskey’s patrol car, Helen continued to scream and become even more irate. Both Helen and Matthew continued to shout and use profanities. Once Matthew was secured in the back of the patrol car, I had Kathleen stand up and placed her under arrest for Battery. I had her place her hands behind her back to handcuff her, checking for proper fit and double locking. I escorted her to my patrol car and searched her incident to arrest. I then transported her to the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center.

When I arrived at the ADC, we waited for Helen to be brought through intake, then Kathleen, followed by Matthew, to keep all parties separated. I verified their information through GCIC since the scene was extremely volatile, and we were unable to confirm all parties while still on scene. Kathleen returned with a Family Violence Order out of Cherokee County where both her parents, [VICTIM #3] and [VICTIM #2], were listed as protected parties. I added the charge for Violation of a Family Violence Order.

I released Kathleen to the Cherokee County ADC without incident. Due to everyone on scene being uncooperative and noncompliant, I was unable to speak with [VICTIM #1] and explain to him the VINE card and what was occurring. I called him after leaving the ADC and explained the charges for each person: Helen- Disorderly Conduct and Obstruction (Misdemeanor); Kathleen- Battery, and Violation of Family Violence Order; and Matthew- Criminal Trespass (FVA), Interference with 911 Call, Disorderly Conduct, and Obstruction (Misdemeanor). He stated he understood.

I was unable to issue a VINE card to [VICTIM #2] and [VICTIM #3] due to finding out about the Violation by Kathleen after the incident.

[End of Narrative]