Matthew Ian Dilley,

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was recently arrested after police say he battered a female, threatened to kill two males and lit some of the female’s belongings on fire.

Matthew Ian Dilley, 37, with addresses of both 4441 North Aspen Drive, Warsaw, and1933 Rosemont Drive, Fort Wayne, is being charged with domestic battery with a child present, a level 6 felony; two counts of intimidation, level 6 felonies; domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor; and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor.

On June 8, an officer with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic battery call. A female victim advised that she, two males and a minor were at the location when Dilley arrived. The two males went inside the house and the minor was inside a parked vehicle. According to the female, Dilley attempted to gain entry into the house.

The female told the officer she got in front of Dilley to stop him. Dilley then shoved the female, making her head bounce off the door frame, and elbowed her in the face. Dilley continued to attempt to gain access inside while the two males held the door shut. Dilley told the two males that he would kill them and told the female that he was going to burn her clothes. Dilley then injured his hand on the door, causing it to bleed, and left the residence.

The officer observed a bump on the back of the female’s head and she complained of pain to her face and lips.

Both males told the officer similar stories of Dilley attempting to get inside the residence, threatening them and battering the female. The minor child advised they could hear the altercation and saw Dilley run to his vehicle.

A short time later, the officer received a dispatch call that there was a fire in a fire pit spreading towards a deck behind Dilley’s residence. Upon arrival, a firefighter had already extinguished the fire. The officer was able to observe a pile of burnt clothing in the fire pit. A neighbor advised he watched Dilley light the fire and then leave the residence.

Dilley admitted to the officer that his intention was to fight one of the males. He further admitted to injuring his hand on the door and stated that he did not think the minor was able to see the altercation.

Dilley was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on July 11, with a $5,250 surety and cash bond.