BCSO and U.S. Marshals Hunt Down Sexual Predator in Tense SWAT Situation
By: ABQ RAW staff
POSTED: 04/12/2023 @10:45AM
SE Albuquerque, NM - On April 11th, 2023, Bernalillo County Sheriffs Deputies and the U.S. Marshals had a large police presence on Elizabeth just south of Central Ave SE, in regards to a fugitive who had been on the loose for three days.
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It all started on April 8th, 2023 when Deputies got reports of a 911 call about an aggravated battery occurring at a residence. When BCSO deputies arrived, they found a victim who had been tied up, held hostage, and sexually assaulted throughout the day. She also explained that Hunter would make threats of "don't try to run bitch or I'll shoot you," and he also said "you can't out run a bullet."
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The suspect that they were looking for was convicted felon, 38-year-old, Matthew Hunter of Albuquerque. Hunter fled the residence when he knew police were on their way. Police established a perimeter, but at the time, they could not locate Hunter in the area or in the residence.
On April 11th, BCSO and the U.S. Marshals found Hunter along the Central Ave corridor and they were able to get him into custody. There was a large amount of police activity as they got Hunter into custody, which many Albuquerque residents took note of. There were no reports of law enforcement or citizen injuries during the situation.
Although no force was used against Hunter, Hunter was transported to a medical facility, for a previous medical complaint, where he was quickly assessed and released. Typically what law enforcement refers to as incarceritis.
According to a release by the U.S. Marshals, originally the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office SWAT responded to the area, and shortly after SWAT’s arrival, Hunter exited the residence with the elderly resident. Before Hunter could be taken into custody, he attempted to flee on foot, scaling a fence. However, USMS-SWIFT elements had a secure perimeter, forcing Hunter to attempt to hide in a shed.
“This arrest signifies our commitment to remaining steadfast, along with our partners, in prioritizing cases involving violent offenders,” said Sonya K. Chavez, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico. “This sends a message to other offenders that these actions will not be tolerated.” Hunter has a long criminal record dating back to 2005 with a few convictions that had parole violations. He is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center and will have a pre-trial hearing in the coming days.