West Boca Man Arrested for Trying to Grab Officer’s Gun After DUI Crash Arrest

Matthew Pierce (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A West Boca man is alleged to have fought with police officers, at one point grabbing onto an officer’s weapon, while being medically cleared to be taken to jail following a head-on collision police say was caused while he was driving drunk.

Matthew Pierce, 57, was first arrested following a head-on collision that took place Dec. 28 at about 7 p.m. at the intersection of SW 18th Street and Boca Rio Road. A vehicle that was later determined to have been driven by Pierce was allegedly traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of SW 18th Street after making a turn, ultimately colliding with another vehicle. Following the collection of statements from witnesses and observations made by Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies, Pierce was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving.

A police report reviewed by Boca Daily News did not indicate any injuries resulting from the crash.

The more serious charges against Pierce originated from a post-arrest incident that occurred at the Good Samaritan Medical Center’s freestanding emergency department in West Palm Beach, where he was transported after being processed at a PBSO alcohol testing center. According to the police report, Pierce “was verbally aggressive with the medical staff,” and was cleared for transport to the county jail after refusing to allow his vital signs to be checked.

After a second deputy arrived at the emergency room, he and the first deputy attempted to stand Pierce up from a seated position when he allegedly “dropped most of his weight and refused to walk forward.” He is then accused of placing pressure on the hip of one of the deputies where his holstered firearm was located and holding onto the weapon. The deputy then issued verbal commands before having to use physical force. He stated in the report that he “had no control of [his] firearm” at the time, and regained it “after a short struggle.”

Pierce was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail without further incident, and was charged with resisting an officer with violence, taking a law enforcement officer’s firearm in the course of duty, DUI with damage to another vehicle, refusing to submit to DUI testing and refusing to sign a legal citation. He remained in the jail on Tuesday in lieu of a combined $21,500 bail for the numerous offenses with which he was charged.