Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Arthur Matthews was killed when his vehicle was rammed by another vehicle during a pursuit.
He had been pursuing a suspected rum runner for approximately 10 miles before the vehicle rammed his car, pushing it into a tree, east of East Bend. Constable Matthews succumbed to his injuries approximately 20 minutes later.
The man driving the other car fled on foot, but two girls who were with him remained on scene and were taken into custody.
Constable Matthews was survived by his wife.
He had been pursuing a suspected rum runner for approximately 10 miles before the vehicle rammed his car, pushing it into a tree, east of East Bend. Constable Matthews succumbed to his injuries approximately 20 minutes later.
Survivors
Constable Matthews was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NC-513B756B- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Matthews served with the Boonville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Boonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Matthews.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Arthur D. Matthews is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arthur D. Matthews's cause is highlighted.
How Arthur D. Matthews Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Arthur D. Matthews is highlighted in Oct.