Haven Matthews

Case #: 12PB2829
Police badge #: 3698
Download original case files
- 13PB2829_Decision.pdf

Recommendation Termination
Decision Return to duty
Length of process 5 months January 22, 2013 to June 20, 2013 Closed

Charged with violating 6 rules on 11 counts


Rule 2	4 counts	Any action or conduct which impedes the Department's efforts to achieve its policy and goals or brings discredit upon the Department. Count 1 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 2: Any action or conduct which impedes the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals or brings discredit upon the Department, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count I: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews kicked Danny Armstrong on or near the ribs and/or the head, and/or stepped on or near Danny Armstrong’s head, and/or struck Danny Armstrong on or near the head with his gun, thereby impeding the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals and/or bringing discredit upon the Department. Count 2 Any action or conduct which impedes the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals or brings discredit upon the Department, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count II: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews struck Christopher Pegues on or near the head with a gun, thereby impeding the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals and/or bringing discredit upon the Department. Count 3 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 2: Any action or conduct which impedes the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals or brings discredit upon the Department, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count III: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews discharged a gun in the direction of Danny Armstrong and/or Christopher Pegues without justification, thereby impeding the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals and/or bringing discredit upon the Department. Count 4 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 2: Any action or conduct which impedes the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals or brings discredit upon the Department, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count IV: On or about February 25, 2011, Officer Matthews impeded the Department’s efforts to achieve its policy and goals and/or brought discredit upon the Department when he made one or more of the following false statements to Investigator Tiffany Williams of the Independent Police Review Authority: that he did not have a gun on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago; and/or that he did not discharge a firearm on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago; and/or that he did not strike Christopher Pegues in the head on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago; and/or that he did not kick Danny Armstrong on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago.
Rule 6	1 count	Disobedience of an order or directive, whether written or oral. Count 1 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit: Rule 6: Disobedience of an order or directive, whether written or oral, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: On or about October 5, 2 008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews used deadly force without justification by discharging a firearm in the direction of Danny Armstrong and/or Christopher Pegues without justification, in violation of General Order 02-08-03 (now known as General Order G03-02-03).
Rule 8	2 counts	Disrespect to or maltreatment of any person, while on or off duty. Count 1 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 8: Disrespect to or maltreatment of any person, while on or off duty, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count I: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews kicked Danny Armstrong on or near the ribs and/or the head, and/or stepped on or near Danny Armstrong’s head, and/or struck Danny Armstrong on or near the head with his gun, thereby disrespecting or maltreating any person, while on or off duty. Count 2 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 8: Disrespect to or maltreatment of any person, while on or off duty, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count II: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews struck Christopher Pegues on or near the head with a gun, thereby disrespecting or maltreating any person, while on or off duty.
Rule 9	2 counts	Engaging in any unjustified verbal or physical altercation with any person, while on or off duty. Count 1 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 9: Engaging in any unjustified verbal or physical altercation with any person, while on or off duty,in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count I: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews kicked Danny Armstrong on or near the ribs and/or the head, and/or stepped on or near Danny Armstrong’s head, and/or struck Danny Armstrong on or near the head with his gun, thereby engaging in any unjustified verbal or physical altercation with any person, while on or off duty. Count 2 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 9:Engaging in any unjustified verbal or physical altercation with any person, while on or off duty,in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: Count II: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 Sout h Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews struck Christopher Pegues on or near the head with a gun, thereby engaging in any unjustified verbal or physical altercation with any person, while on or off duty.
Rule 14	1 count	Making a false report, written or oral. Count 1 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 14: Making a false report, written or oral,in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: On or about February 25, 2011, Officer Matthews made one or more of the following false statements to Investigator Tiffany Williams of the Independent Police Review Authority: that he did not have a gun on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago; and/or that he did not discharge a firearm on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago; and/or that he did not strike Christopher Pegues in the head on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago; and/or that he did not kick Danny Armstrong on October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago.
Rule 38	1 count	Unlawful or unnecessary use or display of a weapon. Count 1 The Respondent, Police Officer Haven Matthews, Star No. 3698, charged herein, is not guilty of violating, to wit:Rule 38: Unlawful or unnecessary use or display of a weapon, in that the Superintendent did not prove by a preponderance of the evidence the following charge: On or about October 5, 2008, in the vicinity of 7800 South Saginaw Avenue, in Chicago, while off duty, Officer Matthews discharged a firearm in the direction of Danny Armstrong and/or Christopher Pegues without justification, thereby unlawfully or unnecessarily using or displaying a weapon.