Detective Grant Robinson with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office charged 40-year-old Matthew Branch with felonious Obtaining Property by False Pretense and felonious Common Law Forgery.
Deputy Jared Tilson also charged Branch with felonious Possession of Methamphetamine and Resisting a Public Officer. Branch was issued a total secured bond of $25,000.
On January 29th, deputies responded to a local scrap metal business in reference to fraud. An investigation determined that Branch sold metal to the business, changed the amount on the check he had received and cashed it for several hundred dollars more than it was worth.
On March 11th, deputies responded to the Lightning Lanes Bowling Alley for a male subject with possible outstanding warrants. Upon arrival, deputies observed an individual walking and recognized him as Branch. While deputies were attempting to make contact, Branch led them on a short foot chase into a nearby wooded area where he was subsequently apprehended. A search of him turned up methamphetamine.
