A Knox County Sheriff’s Office jailer arrested for aggravated assault drew his duty weapon and pointed it at a woman during a domestic dispute, according to police reports obtained by TSPR.
Galesburg police were called to the 1000 block of Lancaster Street around 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 5, for a report of damage in progress.
Upon arrival, officers found Matthew Ferry and a 21-year-old woman arguing with each other. Ferry told officers the two dated for about four months, but had been “on again/off again” since then.
He said the woman used his mother’s vehicle the previous evening and he went to the residence where the woman was staying to retrieve it.
When the woman refused to return the keys, Ferry reached into her bra to retrieve them, according to police reports.
Then the woman bit Ferry on the arm and the altercation moved outside, where the woman slashed the driver’s side rear tire of the vehicle and pointed a pink knife at Ferry.
Ferry at some point drew his duty weapon and pointed it at the woman, saying “I’ll [expletive] shoot you, [expletive]”, according to the woman's statements to police.
The weapon was an M&P .40 Caliber Smith and Wesson pistol with a fully loaded magazine.
The woman told officers she and Ferry had known each other for a year after he looked up her information in the jail system.
Ferry was off-duty at the time of the incident.
Police referred the incident to the Knox County State’s Attorney and a warrant was issued for Ferry’s arrest the following week.
Ferry was arrested at his residence and taken to the Knox County jail, where he posted bond and was released.
In a release last week, the Sheriff’s Office said Ferry is on administrative leave.
The woman is charged with criminal damage to property.
No information about Ferry's court case is available in online court records.
TSPR has requested details about the status of the case from the Knox County State’s Attorney.
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
