Amber man arraigned on gun charges, fleeing from police.

Matzen

Amber man arraigned on gun charges, fleeing from police.

#MasonCountyCrime

AMBER TOWNSHIP – A 22-year-old Amber Township man accused of fleeing from police and being in possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle has been arraigned in 79th District Court. Michael James Matzen, Jr., of 837 S. Gordon Road, faces felony charges of fourth-degree fleeing and eluding police and felony firearm and a misdemeanor of possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

About 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, Matzen allegedly fled from Mason County sheriff’s deputies when they were called to the area of Conrad Road near Stiles Road for a report of a person firing a gun from a vehicle.

Matzen allegedly drove off Amber Road through a field before surrendering to law enforcement.

“Deputies responded to the area of Stiles Road and Conrad Road for a report of a vehicle in the area discharging a firearm from the vehicle,” said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. A deputy spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. “The vehicle fled north on Amber Road and then off the road and through a field (near Conrad Road) before stopping. The driver was taken into custody, and a long gun was recovered in the vehicle along with spent shell casing on the floor of the vehicle.”

Fourth-degree fleeing and eluding police is a felony punishable by up to two years imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine. Felony firearm is punishable by up to two years imprisonment. Possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years imprisonment and/or a $2,500 fine.

Matzen is scheduled for a preliminary exam Jan. 30 at 11:15 a.m. His bail was set at $5,000/10 percent.

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