Worcester Man Sentenced For Injuring Auburn Police Officer
Auburn Police (Facebook)
A Worcester man was sentenced to 15 years in state prison today for driving into an Auburn Police officer with his SUV as he fled police in February, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early, Jr.
48 year old Matthew Ostrander pleaded guilty to 11 charges, including aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of personal injury, operating to endanger and resisting arrest. He also pleaded guilty to a breaking and entering in the daytime charge related to the break-in of a home in Millbury that led to the police chase. Ostrander was also classified as a habitual offender, which requires he serves a minimum 15 year sentence on the aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge and a minimum 10-year sentence on the breaking and entering charge.
Assistant District Attorney Julieanne Karcasinas told the court that police sought Ostrander on Feb. 11, 2017 after a woman returned to her Millbury home and saw a man running from the house.
Millbury Police pursued Ostrander into Auburn, where Officer Luis Santos placed stop sticks in the path of Ostrander’s vehicle. Ostrander drove around the stop sticks and struck the officer. Officer Santos suffered a head injury, a broken leg and knee injury and was hospitalized for 6 days after the crash. He has not yet been able to return to work.
Ostrander also pleaded guilty to two charges of receiving stolen property, malicious destruction of property, possession of a firearm and possession of a loaded firearm. Worcester Superior Court Judge Richard T. Tucker sentenced Ostrander to the 15 years in state prison as well as three years of supervised probation to include drug and mental health evaluations and treatment, to remain drug free and to stay away from all victims.
Matthew Ostrander (Auburn Police)