Matthew Lee Pittman has pleaded not guilty to charges placed against him in connection with a Jan. 3 officer-involved shooting in Fort Smith.
Pittman, 19, of Fort Smith pleaded not guilty to all three counts of aggravated assault, all felonies punishable by up to six years in prison, after his attorney filed a waiver of arraignment in reference to his Jan. 24 arraignment date. The charge, put forth by Sebastian County Prosecutor Daniel Shue, stems from Pittman allegedly driving his vehicle at two Fort Smith police officers and a third individual assisting in his arrest Jan. 3.
Pittman is set to appear in Sebastian County Circuit Court on May 23 in relation to the charge.
Pittman allegedly drove his vehicle at Officer Jeff Lum, Officer in training Thomas Brashier and the third individual on the evening of Jan. 3 after Fort Smith police tried to arrest him on a felony firearms warrant in the parking lot of Pic-N-Tote, 1116 Grand Ave. Video surveillance of the alleged incident showed Lum, Brashier and the third individual dodging Pittman's vehicle as he drove at them.
Pittman was arrested for his felony firearms warrant and alleged actions after Lum, Brashier and an undercover detective fired their weapons into his vehicle when he drove at the two officers and third individual. He was taken to an area hospital immediately following the incident, Cpl. Anthony Rice with the Police Department said.
Pittman was charged for an alleged terroristic act Jan. 9 in Sebastian County Circuit Court. According to an affidavit for probable cause, Pittman "did unlawfully and feloniously shoot at an occupiable structure" with the intent to cause injury to two individuals and damage property on or around Dec. 17, 2017. He was arraigned for the charge Jan. 10.
Administrative officials with the Police Department placed the three officers who fired their weapons at Pittman and five officers who witnessed the alleged shooting on leave the day after the alleged shooting amid an internal investigation into the incident. The eight officers returned to work after Sebastian County Prosecutor Daniel Shue ruled the eight officers' actions justified.
Pittman was in custody in the Sebastian County Adult Detention Center in lieu of a $180,000 bond Saturday.