Clearly shaken by the experience
Chico man arrested on assault charges after allegedly trying to run down sidewalk counselor with vehicle outside Planned Parenthood facility
A Chico man is facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly trying to run down a sidewalk counselor with an SUV outside a Planned Parenthood abortion center in Chico.
Police said Matthew Reid Haver, 40, of Chico was charged with assault and other lesser crimes, including driving with a suspended license and using license plates from another vehicle on the SUV he used during the Wednesday, June 24 incident. The man Haver allegedly tried to run down was able to jump out of the way and was not seriously hurt, police said.
“According to witness statements gathered by police, Haver allegedly tried to strike 60-year-old protestor James Canfield with a 1991 GMC sports utility vehicle at the Planned Parenthood office on Vallombrosa Avenue,” reported theParadise Post. “Canfield moved out of the way and was not seriously injured during the incident, but clearly shaken by the experience, Chico Police Lt. John Carrillo said.”
With the help of witnesses, who took down the license plate number of the SUV, a Chico police officer was able to identify the suspect and track down his address, the newspaper reported. “Officers detained, interviewed, and arrested Haver at his home,” said the Post. “Haver was transported to the Chico Police Department Holding Facility for prisoner intake. At the holding facility, however, Haver had a medical emergency which required him to be transferred to Enloe Medical Center for treatment.”
Police would not give details of the “medical emergency,” but said it required them to call an ambulance, the Post reported. “Officers decided the best course of action would be to release Haver on a citation to appear in court. Had the medical emergency not occurred, Haver would have been booked in the Butte County Jail,” said the newspaper.
Canfield is a regular sidewalk counselor outside the Planned Parenthood facility and at another abortion center in Chico, the Women's Health Center, just across the street from the police department, according to the Post.
“He (Canfield) reportedly has a large sign with a graphic photo of an aborted fetus, and it receives attention as people drive by,” said the Post story. “The investigation revealed that Haver had a child with him in the vehicle, and as they drove by the demonstration, the child asked what was on the sign.”
Lt. Carrillo, the Post reported, “said it appears Haver became enraged over the picture of the aborted fetus, lost control of his emotions and tried to strike Canfield with his vehicle.”
Police said Matthew Reid Haver, 40, of Chico was charged with assault and other lesser crimes, including driving with a suspended license and using license plates from another vehicle on the SUV he used during the Wednesday, June 24 incident. The man Haver allegedly tried to run down was able to jump out of the way and was not seriously hurt, police said.“According to witness statements gathered by police, Haver allegedly tried to strike 60-year-old protestor James Canfield with a 1991 GMC sports utility vehicle at the Planned Parenthood office on Vallombrosa Avenue,” reported theParadise Post. “Canfield moved out of the way and was not seriously injured during the incident, but clearly shaken by the experience, Chico Police Lt. John Carrillo said.”
With the help of witnesses, who took down the license plate number of the SUV, a Chico police officer was able to identify the suspect and track down his address, the newspaper reported. “Officers detained, interviewed, and arrested Haver at his home,” said the Post. “Haver was transported to the Chico Police Department Holding Facility for prisoner intake. At the holding facility, however, Haver had a medical emergency which required him to be transferred to Enloe Medical Center for treatment.”
Police would not give details of the “medical emergency,” but said it required them to call an ambulance, the Post reported. “Officers decided the best course of action would be to release Haver on a citation to appear in court. Had the medical emergency not occurred, Haver would have been booked in the Butte County Jail,” said the newspaper.
Canfield is a regular sidewalk counselor outside the Planned Parenthood facility and at another abortion center in Chico, the Women's Health Center, just across the street from the police department, according to the Post.
“He (Canfield) reportedly has a large sign with a graphic photo of an aborted fetus, and it receives attention as people drive by,” said the Post story. “The investigation revealed that Haver had a child with him in the vehicle, and as they drove by the demonstration, the child asked what was on the sign.”
Lt. Carrillo, the Post reported, “said it appears Haver became enraged over the picture of the aborted fetus, lost control of his emotions and tried to strike Canfield with his vehicle.”
