No bail for Saugus man charged after police chase, crash

LYNN – A judge ordered a Saugus man held without bail Monday after police said the man was high and driving a stolen minivan when he crashed into a cruiser during a chase throughout his hometown.”Officers were going to attempt to block the motor vehicle, when it swerved at one of the police cruisers ? and did not stop despite several emergency lights,” Assistant District Attorney Shailagh Kennedy said in Lynn District Court Monday afternoon.Steven A. Matthis, of 5 Ireson St., was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of drugs, third offense; operating a motor vehicle with a license revoked as a habitual traffic offender; reckless operation of a motor vehicle; assault with a dangerous weapon, a motor vehicle; assault with a dangerous weapon, a screwdriver; receiving a stolen motor vehicle, subsequent offense; and two warrants at 8:48 p.m. Sunday.He was arraigned in Lynn District Court on Monday.Kennedy told the court a Saugus ambulance and fire engine responded to a medical call at Dunkin Donuts on Lincoln Avenue Sunday evening. But restaurant patrons told officials the ill man had left in a silver minivan. A police officer then reported seeing the minivan, which stopped in the middle of a turn when it noticed the cruiser, Kennedy said. She told the court the officer reported the driver’s eyes were “barely open,” and he was “very lethargic.”But police reported the minivan then fled and officers pursued. Police attempted to block the fleeing van, but the driver swerved at the cruiser and continued refusing to stop, Kennedy said. Officers eventually called off the chase due to the risk of potential injury, she said.However, police saw the car again on Vincent Street. Kennedy said the car swerved at a police cruiser again while trying to escape. Police reported in the log the car backed over a fence at 52 Lincoln Ave., then backed into the right front side of a cruiser while trying to escape.As the driver – later identified as Matthis – got out of the car, he again tried to flee and threatened officers with a large screwdriver, taunting officers to draw their guns, Kennedy said. Two officers were injured while arresting Matthis, Saugus Police Assistant Chief Ronald Giorgetti said Monday.Police found the car’s steering column had been cracked and there were no keys in the vehicle, which had been reported stolen from a parking lot in Revere Saturday, Kennedy said.She requested Matthis be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing, noting he had two prior convictions in Malden and Newburyport courts for driving under the influence of drugs. She also requested $5,000 cash bail for the new charges.Probation Officer Terry Ward requested Matthis be held for a potential probation violation due to the new charges and because Matthis had left a drug-treatment program.Court appointed Defense Attorney Ben Richard said he did not challenge probable cause for a dangerousness hearing.Judge Matthew Machera ordered Matthis held for a dangerousness hearing and set $5,000 cash bail on the new charges.Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].