Man arrested, charged for allegedly slashing tire and threatening driver in St. George

ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) — A Santa Clara man has been arrested and charged after allegedly slashing a tire and threatening another driver with a knife while under the influence.

Matthew Kenneth Johnson, 42, has been charged with aggravated assault, a third degree felony; property damage with a loss of less than $500, a Class A misdemeanor; driving under the influence, a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense in 10 years; carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence, a Class B misdemeanor; and disorderly conduct, and infraction.

According to documents, on June 28, an officer with the St. George Police Department (SGPD) was dispatched to the 100 N area of Valley View Drive after a man reported his tire was slashed during a road rage incident.

The suspect, later identified as Johnson, was driving a white Kia Soul. According to the victim, he was traveling behind a slow-moving vehicle, and Johnson was traveling behind him. Due to traffic in the other lane, Johnson could not pass the slow-moving vehicle or the victim in front of him.

The victim told police that the slow-moving vehicle turned right, and then the victim turned left, recalling that the white Kia Soul driven by Johnson was tailgating him closely. While waiting at a stop sign on Valley View Drive, he saw Johnson exit the white Kia and allegedly begin to hit the victim’s vehicle.

A noise that sounded like leaking air was reported by the victim, at which point he exited his vehicle to speak with Johnson. When he walked to the back of his vehicle, Johnson was allegedly brandishing a black hunting-style knife over his head.

“If you come any closer, I will kill you,” the victim recalls Johnson telling him.

According to documents, the victim was fearful that he would be charged with the knife and got back into his vehicle. He followed the white Kia Soul onto Valley View Drive in order to get the license plate number, then returned to where the incident happened to wait for police.

The Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department stopped Johnson, but instead of complying with officers, Johnson allegedly exited his vehicle and began walking away from it. Officers ordered him to stop, but he did not listen. He was detained on suspicion of a DUI.

An officer with the Santa Clara-Ivins Police Department stated that he observed Johnson’s eyes to be “glossy and bloodshot,” and also observed other signs of being under the influence. A smell of alcohol was coming from Johnson’s breath, according to the officer.

The officer asked if Johnson would participate in a field sobriety test, and Johnson declined. When asked if he would perform a blood or breath test, he also refused. The officer finally asked if he would perform a chemical test, and Johnson allegedly responded “f– no.”

A warrant was submitted to draw blood for a sobriety test, and it was signed and approved. A blood sample was taken from Johnson. During a search of Johnson’s vehicle, a hunting knife was located, matching what the victim had described.

Johnson was booked into the Washington County Jail and is currently being held without bail. He has an initial appearance on these charges scheduled for July 1.