A Cullman County man is under arrest after authorities say he threatened firefighters and tried to assault numerous lawmen during a weekend investigation.
The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office on Monday announced formal charges against 36-year-old Matthew Eli Aaron. The Bremen man is charged with second-degree arson, two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree burglary and resisting arrest.
Deputies received a call Friday night from a fire department that a field was on fire at the intersection of County Road 8 and County Road 35. When the firefighters responded, a person — later identified to be Aaron — refused to allow them to extinguish the fire. Aaron also threatened several of the firefighters.
Once on the scene, deputies learned Aaron had left the area of the field and had threatened several other residents who came to assist the firefighters. Deputies began to search for Aaron and determined he had left the immediate area. At that point, sheriff’s officials said, Aaron had broken into several homes in the area of County Road 8 and County Road 35.
As deputies were speaking with a homeowner whose home was reportedly damaged by Aaron, they noticed fire and smoke coming from another residence nearby. Deputies quickly arrived and saw the house was indeed on fire. They made entry into the home to make sure no one was inside the residence.
As deputies made their way to the back side of the residence, they spotted Aaron inside a screened-in porch. Aaron discarded his gun but did not follow any other lawful orders and began to assault the deputies and investigators. After several minutes of resisting arrest and assaulting the deputies, authorities said, Aaron was handcuffed and taken to the Cullman County Detention Center. Once at the jail, lawmen said, Aaron still refused to comply with authorities and attempted to assault jail deputies, as well as Cullman police officers.
Aaron is currently being treated at Cullman County Regional Hospital for drug-related issues and smoke inhalation. Once released from the hospital, he will be held without bond. More charges against Aaron are expected.
“I am very thankful for the deputies, detention deputies, as well as the CPD officers and many firefighters who assisted in the arrest of this suspect and also helping get him detained once he arrived here at the detention center,’’ Sheriff Matt Gentry said. “I have also spoken to District Attorney Wilson Blaylock about this incident and his office and the sheriff’s office will do everything we can for the victims and citizens in the Prospect/Mt. Joy area.”
“I’m proud of the relentless effort by our deputies and assistance from community members in Mr. Aarons apprehension,” Gentry said.
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