A Warminster Township woman who dragged three Montgomery Township Police officers across a roadway with her vehicle on New Year’s Day has been sentenced to jail.
As part of a negotiated plea agreement with prosecutors, 30-year-old Erica Matyok has been sentenced to 9-to-23-months in county jail followed by two years of probation, after pleading guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault on Dec. 5. Additional charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, attempting to elude police, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and related traffic offenses were dismissed in exchange for the plea.
Court records indicate that Matyok will receive credit for more than seven months of jail time, by way of 213 days of time already served while awaiting the resolution of her case.
According to the criminal complaint, police were on patrol in the area of Bethlehem Pike and Knapp Road at 12:35 a.m. on Jan. 1, when they encountered a maroon Hyundai Sonata traveling with its high beams on. Police began to follow the vehicle and noticed that the rear driver’s-side brake light was malfunctioning. Police continued to follow the vehicle through the Airport Square Shopping Center, before initiating a traffic stop at the intersection of Bethlehem Pike and Dekalb Pike.
Upon making contact with the driver—identified as Matyok—police noticed an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, and the report adds that two marijuana joints were observed inside the vehicle in plain view. While conducting a check for warrants, police learned that Matyok had an active arrest warrant in Bucks County for failure to appear for a DUI hearing.
The report states that police asked Matyok to exit the vehicle, at which point she refused and began to pull away. Then, as three officers attempted to take her into custody, Matyok put the car in drive and dragged all three officers across the roadway as she fled the scene. A high-speed pursuit ensued, though the pursuit was terminated shortly after due to public safety concerns.
Just before 1 a.m., police again encountered Matyok, this time at the intersection of Lansdale Avenue and Cowpath Road, according to the complaint. Once again, Matyok fled the scene at a high rate of speed, and police did not pursue. She was arrested at her home several days later.
Matyok Also Sentenced to Jail in Related Police Assault Case
Following Matyok’s formal arraignment on the initial charges in March, she was reportedly given the opportunity to admit herself into an inpatient rehabilitation facility in lieu of bail. Then, on July 7, she was again arrested for assaulting a police officer, this time in Abington Township.
It is unclear how or why Matyok was out of the facility at the time of her second arrest.
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 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 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 was 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.
On Dec. 5, Matyok was sentenced to 152-days-to-23-months in prison, followed by three years of probation, as part of a negotiated plea agreement with prosecutors. Per the agreement, Matyok plead guilty to one felony count of aggravated assault and one count of false identification to law enforcement, and all other charges were dropped.
Court records indicate that Matyok will receive credit for 152 days of time served while awaiting the resolution of her case, meaning she has already fulfilled the jail portion of her sentence for the second set of charges.
See also:
MTPD: Woman Injures Three Officers While Fleeing Traffic Stop
Woman Accused Of Aggravated Assault Against Police For Second Time This Year
Man Who Violently Assaulted Girlfriend Strikes Plea Deal, Sentenced to Prison
Jury Finds Towamencin ‘Boogieman’ Guilty on Felony Drug Charge
Charges Dropped Against Man Accused of Attempted Bank Robbery
