Woman Accused of Aggravated Assault Against Police for Second Time This Year

North Penn Now Staff•

Erica Matyok, 30, of Ambler, as seen in her booking image from the January arrest.

An Ambler woman who allegedly dragged three Montgomery Township Police Officers across a roadway with her vehicle on New Year’s Day is facing new charges, after she allegedly assaulted multiple Abington Township police officers during a traffic stop in July.

According to the criminal complaint, Abington Township Police conducted a traffic stop on a black Kia with expired registration at the intersection of Bradfield Road and Heston Street on July 7 at 12:27 a.m. The report states that police conducted a passenger-side approach, and while the driver was searching for their documents, the passenger—identified as 30-year-old Erica Matyok—was visibly shaking and avoiding eye contact. When police asked Matyok for identification, she stated that she did not have any, and upon further questioning, stated "I’m just the passenger and I didn’t do anything wrong,” the report states.

Police asked the driver for the name of the passenger, and they replied that she was "Amanda Jones,” the report states. Matyok then allegedly told police that her name was "Natalie McClelland,” according to the report. She then opened her door and began to walk away, and upon being ordered to stop, Matyok began to flee eastbound on Heston Street on foot, the report states.

Following a brief foot pursuit, the complaint states that police attempted to take Matyok into custody, but she resisted and fought with the arresting officers. Matyok allegedly kicked the officers and attempted to bite their arms, and continued to resist until police eventually tased her several times, according to the report.

She was then handcuffed and taken into custody, the report states, though she continued to identify herself as "Natalie McClelland.” A search of her purse later revealed a Pennsylvania driver’s license with her actual name, along with cocaine, marijuana and several needles, according to the report.

As a result of the incident, Matyok has been charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor counts of simple assault, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement, and summary charges of harassment.

Matyok was arraigned that afternoon by Magisterial District Judge Christopher Cerski, who set bail at $15,000 cash. She was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail.

On July 17, Matyok had her preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge John Kessler, who reduced her bail to 10-percent of $1,000 cash. Two of the originally filed three aggravated assault charges were also withdrawn at that time, according to court documents.

Her next scheduled court appearance for this case is a formal arraignment at county court on Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m.

Prior Arrest in January

At the time of her July arrest, Matyok was already facing charges from an arrest in Montgomery Township that occurred on Jan. 1.

In that incident, Matyok was charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault and two felony counts of attempting to elude police, in addition to misdemeanor charges of simple assault, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substances, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, after she allegedly fled a traffic stop and dragged three police officers with her vehicle in the process.

Montgomery Township Police Chief Scott Bendig said all three officers suffered contusions, but he was thankful that they were minor. Matyok was a wanted fugitive at the time of the arrest in January, due to failing to appear for a DUI hearing in Bucks County.

Matyok was arraigned on Jan. 4 by Magisterial District Judge Andrea Hudak Duffy, who set bail at $50,000 cash. She was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail.

All charges were held against Matyok during her preliminary hearing on Jan. 15, though bail was reduced to $5,000 cash. Matyok had her formal arraignment in March, and her next court appearance on these charges is a pre-trial conference at the county courthouse scheduled for Sept. 4 at 9 a.m.

North Penn Now has learned that Matyok was given the opportunity to admit herself into an inpatient rehabilitation facility in lieu of bail following her formal arraignment in March, but it remains unclear how or why she was out of the facility at the time of her arrest in July.

(Editor's note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records, the affidavit of probable cause, and reflects the point of view of the police. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)