Matthew Gene Wagoner

Matthew Gene Wagoner, 29, 10398 N. Grove Road, Milford, was arrested over the weekend by US Marshals and Fort Wayne Police Department officers.

“He was located by the US Marshal service, who apprehend him in Allen County,” said Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department First Sergeant Chad Hill. Hill said KCSD Lieutenant Chris McKeand was working with US Marshals.

According to Hill, the marshals set up surveillance in Allen County. Wagoner showed up in the surveillance area, at which point marshals alerted FWPD. Marshals and police officers pursued Wagoner, a short foot pursuit ensued and Wagoner was ultimately brought to justice.

KCSD was alerted of his incarceration on Sunday, and Wagoner was transported to the Kosciusko County Jail yesterday afternoon, where he is currently awaiting trial. Wagoner is facing six different charges resulting from an automobile accident that occurred on July 20, 2014.

Wagoner was traveling north on SR 13 in North Webster, with his two sons in the vehicle, when he crossed the center line and collided with a vehicle driven by Jeremy Valentine, 39, of Wynnewood, Pa. Valentine was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime, his wife, Seana, was airlifted to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne for treatment of multiple extensive injuries. The Valentine’s two young children also sustained serious injury, and Wagoner’s youngest child was airlifted to Parkview as well.

At the scene, Wagoner refused to consent to a blood draw for drug and alcohol testing before being airlifted to Parkview for treatment of his injuries. KCSD obtained search warrants and conducted blood tests which determined Wagoner was under the influence of methamphetamine.

On Sept. 5, Kosciusko Crime Stoppers produced a press release stating that police were seeking information about the whereabouts of Wagoner. According to the probable cause affidavit, Wagoner faces charges of Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated with a Minor Passenger, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death and three counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury,