Man accused of crashing car into house after overdosing

A 32-year-old man who crashed his car into a house in Belgium after authorities suspect he overdosed on fentanyl last week has been charged in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with two felonies. 

Matthew M. Buelow of Cedar Grove faces counts of second-offense possession of narcotic drugs and resisting arrest-injuring an officer.

He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of bail jumping, possession of drug paraphernalia and third-offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Ozaukee County sheriff’s deputies who were responding to a report of a vehicle that crashed into a house in the 100 block of East Lane around 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, found Buelow slumped over and passed out behind the wheel of the car. A recently used syringe was in his hand, according to the criminal complaint.

The person who reported the crash told deputies that a female passenger in the car ran away.

Buelow was given medical treatment for a suspected drug overdose, and as he began to wake up he struggled with officers who were attempting to arrest him. Buelow still had the syringe in his hand and refused orders from officers to drop it, the complaint states.

When Buelow attempted to run away, one of the officers tried to use a taser to stop him, but it had no effect. With the help of the person who reported the crash, officers then tackled Buelow and struggled with him, according to the complaint.

Buelow was able to get to his feet and was running away when he was again tackled and arrested.

During the struggle, one deputy suffered cuts to his arm. Another deputy suffered gashes on his hand, according to the complaint. 

Deputies who searched Buelow’s car found three syringes, a cut soda can that had burnt residue on it and a plastic bag that contained fentanyl, the complaint states.

Buelow, who has a significant criminal record, is charged as a repeat offender and would face enhanced penalties if convicted of the crimes he is currently charged with. 

In January 2019, he was sentenced in Ozaukee County Circuit Court to 18 months in prison and 18 months of extended supervision for fleeing an officer, as well as three years probation for second-offense possession of marijuana. He was still under court-ordered supervision and free on bail in connection with a misdemeanor fleeing an officer charge in Milwaukee County at the time of last week’s crash.