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Clarence Matthews

Abbeville gun fire leads to one man being arrested

The Abbeville Police were able to arrest one man who was allegedly seen shooting back and forth at another car Tuesday evening on Putnam Street in Abbeville.
The police arrested and charged Clarence Matthews with multiple charges after his vehicle was spotted at a fast-food restaurant in Abbeville Friday morning. When the police went to arrest him, he fled in his car down North State Street and later crashed.
He managed to get out of his car and took off running. Members of the Abbeville Police Department went after him and located and arrested him.
His total bond was $50,500. As of Saturday morning, he was still in the parish jail.
“I want to thank our police officers for their hard work in finding and arresting the subject,” said Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy. “Also, a special thanks goes out to the Vermilion Parish Sheriff Deputy who spotted the car and called it in.”
The Sheriff’s Department and other police departments in the parish were on the look out for two vehicles who were involved in gun fire on the streets of Abbeville.
Abbeville residents called the police Thursday around 6 p.m. saying they heard and saw people shooting at each other. The two cars were going down Putnam Street in Abbeville, with passengers hanging out the windows firing at each other.
A witness described one car as a blue and grey old Camero and the other car as a black Impala.
Friday morning, a Sheriff deputy saw a blue/grey Camero in a fastfood parking lot at 3:30 a.m. He called it in and the Abbeville Police were notified.
The person driving the Camero fled and led police on a chase. Matthews, who was driving, eventually crashed into a house on North State Street. He fled on foot from the accident and the police pursued and caught him.
A .380 caliber pistol was located in Matthew’s vehicle.
He was charged with illegal possession of a stolen fire arm; reckless operation of a vehicle, flight from a police officer and a felon with possession of a firearm.
The police are still searching for the driver of the black Impala. If anyone has information about the black Impala or the shooting, they can call the Abbeville Police Department (893-2511).

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