Residents on numerous streets in McMinnville may have witnessed a low-speed car chase Wednesday around at 3:15 p.m. that ended when an officer tackled the suspect as he tried to flee on foot.
McMinnville Police Det. Eddie Colwell says he attempted to stop a vehicle being operated by Matthew Justin Collins, 27, but the driver decided not to comply.
“I was driving down Sparta Street,” said Colwell. “I observed Matthew Col-lins on Ruby Street. He had two domestic assault warrants and a felony violation. He turned left onto Sparta Street. I followed him down to West Main Street and activated my blue lights. He stopped for approximately 10 seconds at North High Street and then took off.”
At speeds not exceeding 35 mph, the detective followed the black Kia Optima with four occupants onto Walnut Street, Lind Street, Locust Street and West End Avenue. Speeds were so slow at times that one passenger jumped from the vehicle.
“Halfway through, one passenger jumped out,” said Colwell. “That individual was on probation and didn’t want to be involved. The remaining two were just passengers. They remained in the vehicle and said they tried to tell him to stop, but he said he didn’t want to.”
Collins pulled into the driveway of 206 West End Avenue and drove behind the house.
“He jumped from the vehicle at that point and the car continued on,” said Colwell. “He took off behind the residence on foot. I pursued him for probably 200 yards and tackled him in a field in between Lind Street and West End Avenue. We had a brief altercation. He failed to comply.”
Collins, a Warren County resident, is behind held at Warren County Jail for the three outstanding warrants: violation of community corrections and two counts of domestic assault. For Wednesday’s incident, two charges of resisting and evading arrest were added.
During a search, a loaded Hi Point 9 mm was located.
“Additional charges are pending on that,” said Colwell. “He’s a convicted felon for two counts of aggravated assault and one count of robbery that occurred in 2018.”
