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Quinhagak Man Charged With Assaulting Tribal Police Officer

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A Quinhagak man is in jail after allegedly escaping jail, stealing a four-wheeler, and assaulting a Tribal Police Officer, among other charges.

On New Year’s Eve, Michael Matthew, age 23, escaped the Quinhagak jail after Tribal Police Officers let him out of his cell to use the bathroom. According to court documents, Matthew kicked down a locked door and ran outside. He then jumped on a Tribal Police Officer’s personal four-wheeler that had been left running, and fled. Within minutes the police had caught Matthew, pepper sprayed him, and handcuffed him.

A Tribal Police Officer told Troopers that Matthew had threatened to hurt police officers in the past and that the officer had used pepper spray because “he was afraid and believed Michel was about to assault him,” according to court documents.

Matthew is charged with third degree escape, fourth degree assault of a peace officer, second degree vehicle theft, and violating his conditions of release.

Those conditions included remaining within sight and sound of his grandmother after he was charged in November with criminal trespass in the first degree. The misdemeanor charge came after Matthew refused to leave his ex-girlfriend’s house and attempted to take away their daughter, according to court documents.

Matthew is being held at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Correctional Center in Bethel, not having made bail. 

Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.