YOUNG TWP., Pa. (EYT) – Multiple felony charges have been filed against a Punxsutawney man who allegedly punched the window of a vehicle then followed the victims on State Route 119 and intentionally struck their vehicle twice.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney-based State Police filed criminal charges against 40-year-old Matthew Adam Wright.
According to a criminal complaint, around 3:16 a.m. on Monday, March 29, Punxsutawney-based State Police were dispatched to the Walmart store in Young Township, Jefferson County, for a report of a fight in the parking lot.
Police responded to the scene and made contact with two victims, a known male and a known female.
According to the complaint, the female victim told police she and the male victim were in the male victim’s vehicle when Matthew Wright walked up to the vehicle and began punching the window. The male victim then put the vehicle in reverse and drove out of the parking lot.
The victim said Wright then got into his own vehicle and began to follow them through the parking lot and onto State Route 119.
The male victim told police that while they were traveling south on State Route 119, Wright pulled his vehicle up beside the victim’s vehicle and intentionally drove the passenger side of his vehicle into the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle. The victim stated Wright attempted to push his vehicle off the roadway.
The male victim also reported that Wright then intentionally rammed his vehicle into the rear driver’s side bumper of the victim’s vehicle. He told police they were traveling at speeds of over 80 miles per hour as he tried to flee Wright and the intentional damage he was causing.
Wright was then interviewed about the incident.
According to the complaint, Wright admitted to punching the victim’s vehicle window and following the victims through the parking lot and onto State Route 119. He also reportedly admitted that a sideswipe incident had occurred between the two vehicles but said it was a result of the male victim abruptly applying his brakes as Wright was driving beside the victim’s vehicle. Wright told police there “may have been” another time when he hit the victim’s vehicle with his own vehicle, but he was unsure.
Police observed the victim’s vehicle had damage consistent with the information given in the interviews, the complaint notes.
Wright was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 1:30 p.m. on March 29, on the following charges:
– Aggravated Assault – Attempts to Cause Serious Bodily Injury or Causes Injury with Extreme Indifference, Felony 1 (two counts)
– Stalking – Repeatedly Commit Acts to Cause Fear, Felony 3 (two counts)
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary (two counts)
– Reckless Driving, Summary (two counts)
– Careless Driving, Summary (two counts)
He remains free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 11 with Judge Mizerock presiding.
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