Centralia Police say a 26-year-old Centralia man faces multiple charges from incidents occurring over the past two months. Matthew Woods of South Maple was taken into custody late Tuesday afternoon after leading Centralia Police on an eight-block foot chase that ended in the 500 block of South Lincoln Street.
Centralia Police say Woods latest crime spree started on July 6th when he allegedly committed fraud and deceptive practice for cashing a check for $1237 at a Centralia business apparently using a fake check on the account.
On July 22nd, Woods allegedly committed residential burglary and criminal damage to a residence in the same block where he lives on South Maple. He is accused of kicking in the outside door and then a bedroom door before breaking into a safe and taking jewelry valued at $5,000 to $10,000.
Centralia Police say Woods then allegedly successfully fled vehicles he was a passenger on August 1st and August 31st. The first incident was at Calumet and Oakdale and the second near Beach and McCord.
Woods was then identified as a suspect in a September 7th burglary to a truck owned by Nelson Tree Service that was parked behind the Centralia Recreation Complex by video surveillance.
Salem Police have added fraud and deceptive practice charges against Woods in connection with a July 19th incident where he allegedly wrote and cashed a check on a non-existent account. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department is also looking at potential charges against Woods who remains in the county jail pending a decision on formal charges.
