Matthew Aaron Owens

WARSAW — Matthew Aaron Owens, 26, 3525 E. Eastridge Drive, Warsaw, has been arrested on charges of stalking, a level 5 felony; intimidation, a level 6 felony; invasion of privacy and criminal mischief, both class A misdemeanors.

He is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $100,000 surety bond.

Charges were filed against Owens on Aug. 18, in Kosciusko Superior Court 3, by the prosecutor’s office.

The court affidavit of probable cause, states on Aug. 5, Warsaw City Police Officer Samuel Weaver responded to an accident where one driver left the scene. The accident was at Susie’s Sandbar, 1360 W. Center St., Warsaw. There, Weaver found a vehicle with significant driver side damage and two flat tires, owned by Katie McCarty.

McCarty named Owens, a former boyfriend, as the suspect in the damage. She stated the two had argued inside the bar and damage to her vehicle was discovered 10 minutes after he left.

The following day, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Officer Thomas Waikel responded to a criminal mischief report from Sarah Flack. Flack reported all tires on her vehicle had been cut. Waikel found the sidewalls had been punctured and the tires  intentionally cut. Flack stated around 1:53 a.m. she and McCarty heard a vehicle and saw Owens’ vehicle doing doughnuts in the yard. Police were given an invoice totaling $263.80 to replace the tires.

Police were also informed Owens had been harassing McCarty and sending threatening messages. McCarty stated she had been receiving text messages and emails from Owens stating he was going to kill everyone she loved and her. A copy of an email with threats was obtained by police.

Police located Owens’ vehicle, confirming it was the vehicle involved in damaging McCarty’s vehicle. Damage to McCarty’s vehicle was up to $5,000.

A protective order was granted to McCarty on Aug. 12, against Owens, ordering him to refrain from harassing, annoying, telephone, contacting, directly or indirectly communicating with McCarty. That order was served to Owens by a county officer. However on Aug. 15, McCarty reported she had received several phone calls from Owens.

Police were notified again on Aug. 16 by another individual who reported Owens had been calling McCarty’s phone throughout the night of Aug. 15 and into Aug. 16. The individual also reported receiving calls from Owens. Calls were additionally reported being received from the Owens home phone number.

Police went to the Owens residence and received consent to look through Owens’ cell phone where 182 phone calls were found made to McCarty between Aug. 15, through and including Aug. 16.