Florida Murder Suspect Arrested After Multi County Pursuit

Rutherford County -- Febuary 3, 2023: The North Carolina Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Carolinas Regional
Fugitive Task Force were assisted

by the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Forest City Police Department, and Spindale Police Department during a multi-county vehicle pursuit involving a murder suspect on Thursday, February 2, 2023.
On U.S. Highway 64, the pursuit entered Rutherford County and continued through the towns of Bostic and Ellenboro.

 Matthew Scott Flores

A chase intervention strategy was used to end the pursuit. But after a brief foot pursuit with troopers and deputies, the man was caught. The suspect, 35-year-old Matthew Scott Flores, was wanted for a number of offences in both North Carolina and Florida.

Flores received medical assistance from Rutherford County EMS and was sent to Rutherford Regional Health System for evaluation because of his obvious impairment and probable drug usage. Flores was sent to the Rutherford County Detention Center following medical clearance.
Matthew Scott Flores is wanted for at least one homicide in Hardee County, Florida, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff. When the chase came to a stop on Main Street and Hollis Road in Ellenboro, Flores was taken to the hospital following a collision.
Ellenburg claimed that the chase was extremely risky and hazardous.

"But this is one case, the sheriff said, "you have to keep going. You’ve got something of this caliber and our citizens could be at risk with this type of suspect in the county. We have to take all risks and do what’s necessary to take the suspect into custody.”

Flores is currently being held in the Rutherford County Detention Center with a total secured bond of $615,000 for the remaining North Carolina offenses and no bond for the parole violation.

As part of their inquiry, Florida investigators are traveling to North Carolina, and they are scheduled to arrive sometime on Friday.

Flores’ charges are as follows:
North Carolina
• Parole Violation
• Fugitive
• Felony Speed to Elude Arrest
• DWI
Florida
• Second Degree Murder
• Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon
• Discharge Firearm in Public
• Violation of Supervised Pretrial Release
Flores is currently held in the Rutherford County Detention Center with no bond for the Parole Violation and a total of $615,000 secured bond on the remaining North Carolina charges.

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.

WNCTIMES by Marjorie Farrington