Schuylkill County Man Jailed After Reportedly Leading Police on High-speed Chase Out of Orwigsburg

An Orwigsburg man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after he led local police on a high-speed pursuit earlier this week.

At about 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, police in Schuylkill Haven say that Matthew Armentrout, 41, had been harassing his ex-girlfriend, her boyfriend, and her mother and indicating that he was going to be at Rutter’s near Orwigsburg.

Police say they had an active arrest warrant for Armentrout and, together with police in Orwigsburg, went to Rutter’s where they believed Armentrout would be. Orwigsburg PD arrived at Rutter’s first and informed Schuylkill Haven PD that Armentrout wasn’t there. 

Schuylkill Haven PD was then granted jurisdiction to go into Orwigsburg to check Armentrout’s residence on Walborn Ave. However, he wasn’t there either. 

At that point, Orwigsburg police notified Schuylkill Haven police that Armentrout’s vehicle had been spotted on Route 61 and it just passed Rutter’s heading north. As Schuylkill Haven PD made their way to Route 61 via S. Liberty St., Armentrout’s vehicle was again spotted, heading north on S. Liberty St. toward its intersection with S. Wayne St.

Schuylkill Haven PD say they activated their emergency lights on S. Liberty St. and got behind Armentrout’s vehicle. The pursuit was then initiated. 

Armentrout, police say, made a sudden right onto W. Independence St. and then a right turn onto S. Warren St. After rolling through a Stop sign, police say Armentrout drove through the parking lot at Boyer’s Food Market in Orwigsburg and back onto S. Liberty St. going northbound. 

Police say Armentrout stopped at S. Liberty and W. Market streets, then headed east onto E. Market St./Brick Hill Rd. en route to Route 61. Armentrout made a left turn onto Route 61 going southbound. 

With police in pursuit, Armentrout hit speeds in excess of 87 mph at times. Police say he ran a red light and went around two other vehicles at the intersection of Routes 61 and 895. As the pursuit neared 3C’s Family Restaurant near Port Clinton, supervisors ordered an end to the pursuit out of concern for public safety due to Armentrout allegedly driving recklessly and at high speeds, according to the affidavit.

As Armentrout continued southbound on Route 61, police say he swerved recklessly around several vehicles. Police say he changed lanes four times while fleeing from police. Schuylkill Haven PD phoned ahead to State Police-Hamburg to be on the lookout for Armentrout’s vehicle as he headed in the direction of that barracks.

Nearly an hour after the pursuit started, Schuylkill Haven police called Armentrout. He reportedly said he was initially trying to meet with the mother of his ex-girlfriend. When he was told that police had been pursuing him earlier, he reportedly said, “Was that you, dude? Like Dukes of Hazzard style, man. Was that not fun, bro? Did you not have fun at least?”

Police say they informed Armentrout during that phone call that he was being arrested for eluding police. That didn’t seem to bother Armentrout. He reportedly said, “Uh, why dude? You had no reason to pull me over. Absolutely not. So I figured I would show you guys that I’m not playing either and you guys act like that was my first time doing that. 

“C’mon dude,” he added, “you guys do not scare me.” Armentrout also told police that had video of the pursuit and that he was going to share it on Facebook.

He added, according to police, “All of this could have been avoided but nobody considered asking (her) to drop the charges.” Armentrout also reportedly said he “clearly fights fire with fire” and wanted to be left alone.

When police told Armentrout that a judge had signed a warrant for his arrest, he reportedly responded that he “isn’t afraid of a piece of paper.”

Armentrout was eventually taken into custody early Tuesday morning in his vehicle outside his home in Orwigsburg. He was reportedly slumped over with what appeared to be a pistol on his lap. Police then learned that it was a BB gun.

He was arraigned early Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, before District Magistrate Judge David Plachko. In connection with the high-speed pursuit, he’s facing charges of eluding police, a third-degree felony, and summary charges of speeding, reckless driving, careless driving, two counts of failing to stop, and a single count of disregarding traffic lanes. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for March 13.

Monday night’s incident was just the latest in a recent string of events that led to that pursuit through Orwigsburg and into Berks County.

On Feb. 21, police filed a harassment charge against Armentrout. They say he texted his ex-girlfriend well over 100 times and called another 80 times during a period between Feb. 15-19. 

Then, on the morning of Feb. 23, police responded to the home of Armentrout’s ex for a report of stalking. Armentrout had reportedly showed up at her home and harassed her and her boyfriend. Police also say that an incident in late January had also occurred in which Armentrout showed up at his ex’s home only to find out she was in Florida with their daughter.

Armentrout reportedly then drove to Florida but was intercepted by police there and sent for an involuntary mental health assessment.

He’s also facing a stalking charge.

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