A driver of a car crash at the intersection of North Madison Avenue and East Ward Street who had active warrants attempted to flee Coffee Regional Medical Center where he was receiving treatment for his injuries, according to a report from the Douglas Police Department. He was apprehended and transported to the Coffee County Jail.
The report states that when officers arrived to work the wreck, which occurred on November 2, 2024, they discovered that Matthew Cauley, one of the drivers, had active warrants through the county. He was taken to CRMC for treatment. However, after arriving at the hospital, the report says that he left without telling anyone. Hospital personnel called 911 and officers found Cauley in the parking lot, the report says.
An officer responded and found Cauley in the parking lot. Cauley was handcuffed and taken back inside. ER staff stated that Cauley was clear to leave and he was taken to the Coffee County Jail and served with the warrants.
Cauley had two warrants for financial transaction card fraud and two warrants for identity theft. According to the arrest warrants, Cauley allegedly stole two different credit cards from the same person and used the cards to make two purchases totaling $951.80. All charges are felonies. Family members report that the charges were eventually dropped.