Allegedly Intoxicated Man Charged With Child Cruelty
San Andreas, CA — Deputies, responding to intervene in an incident involving an allegedly drunken man being violent with four children, arrested a local man for child cruelty.
Calaveras County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Rachelle Whiting recounts that over the weekend a family member initially met deputies near a residence in the 6000 block of Paloma Road. There, the person shared a report from one of the juveniles indicating that the suspect, identified as 46-year-old Matthew Brownlee, was intoxicated and becoming violent in the home with the four children, ages five, eight, 13, and 17.
Deputies, arriving at the residence to check out the report, attempted to speak with Brownlee outside. The suspect was reportedly uncooperative and yanked at one small child who was attempting to leave. Refusing to listen while deputies tried engaging him, Whiting states that Brownlee ran back towards the front door as they pursued him.
At that point, she says he turned to take a fighting stance, actively resisting attempts to take him into custody and also attempting to strike several of the peace officers before he was finally handcuffed and placed in a patrol vehicle. According to Whiting, deputies made contact with the juveniles while child protective services were called on scene to assist with the investigation.
It was determined that Brownlee had allegedly become intoxicated on alcohol and was yelling at the children as well as breaking items in the residence. At one point, it was also reported that he was in possession of a knife while threatening to kill the family cats. Brownlee was booked into the Calaveras County Jail and charged with four felony counts of child cruelty and for resisting arrest.
