ORANGE — On Thursday, May 21, 2026, at approximately 11:35 p.m., Officers Andrew Starbard and Evangeline Cakounes of the Orange Police Department were dispatched to the area of 168 W Main Street following a report of a hit and run.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Andrew Starbard and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“The reporting party, Joshua [last name redacted], stated to dispatchers that the involved vehicle was black,” Officer Starbard said. “He gave conflicting information regarding the vehicle’s current location, stating the vehicle had left the area, but later stating the vehicle was now following him. Officer Cakounes and I responded from the police station. As I was about to enter my cruiser, I observed a red Toyota Rav4 traveling east on E River Street in front of the station.”
Officer Starbard said the Rav4 was making a grinding noise as if it had just been damaged.
“I recognized the vehicle to be [Donna’s] because I have had numerous interactions with this specific vehicle,” Officer Starbard said.
The officers did not attempt to stop the Rav4 because it did not match the description provided by the reporting party and the officers were under the impression that the vehicle was still in the area of the crash.
“On arrival, we were flagged down by [Joshua],” Officer Starbard said. “It was very difficult to gather accurate information from him due to his substance abuse. [Joshua] changed the details of his story numerous times. Among the many things he stated, [Joshua] said that he was helping his incarcerated friend’s girlfriend who was in an argument in the driveway of 168 W Main Street. He named his incarcerated friend to be Mike and I was able to figure out that he was referencing Michael Nelson-Page and Miranda [last name redacted]. [Miranda] lives in Apt. [# redacted] of 168 W Main Street. [Joshua] stated a Black male was driving the vehicle, [Miranda] and the Black male were arguing, and eventually the Black male drove away dragging [Miranda].”
Officer Starbard said Joshua had a couple minor cuts on his hands that were treated by Orange Fire Department personnel.
“Officers then made contact with Miranda [last name redacted] at 168 W Main Street. [Miranda] stated that she was texting her friend Donna [last name redacted] and was under the impression [Donna] was coming over,” Officer Starbard said. “[Miranda] approached [Donna’s] red Rav4 in the driveway, but did not find [Donna] in her car. [Miranda] stated [Donna’s] boyfriend named Chi (pronounced Shy), was driving the Rav4. No other people were in the Rav4. [Miranda] stated that Chi came over to confront her because he believed [Donna] was cheating on him with her.”
According to police, Chi D. Matthews, 42, is a resident of Springfield, MA.
“[Miranda] denied the claim and they began arguing. Chi was in the driver’s seat while [Miranda] was standing outside,” Officer Starbard said. “[Miranda] stated that as Chi drove away, he grabbed ahold of her left arm causing [Miranda] to be half inside the driver’s side window.”
Miranda said the RAV4 then dragged her approximately 25 feet down the driveway, striking the concrete retaining wall along the edge of the driveway in the process.
“[Miranda] stated it wasn’t until after the event that [Donna] reached out and explained that Chi took [Donna’s] phone and pretended to be her so he could confront [Miranda],” Officer Starbard said. “[Miranda] did not know Chi’s full name, but she did provide a physical description. She also stated that she has met Chi numerous times.”
Officer Starbard said Miranda’s only injury was a small abrasion on the inside of her upper right arm. He said she denied any other injuries, denied being run over and declined medical treatment from EMS.
“[Miranda] stated she would fill out a witness statement for us but did not want to cooperate as a victim in a potential criminal case,” Officer Starbard said, adding that officers did not obtain a written statement from her as a result.
Officer Starbard said that he and Officer Evangeline Cakounes then went to the Pine Crest Apartments, where they located the red Rav4 with Massachusetts plates in its usual parking spot.
“I observed damage to the passenger front tire, rim, and bumper that was consistent with striking the concrete retaining wall,” Officer Starbard said. “As we were looking at the Rav4, [Donna] came outside to speak with us. [Donna] stated her friend Chi came over unannounced, entered her apartment, took her cell phone and car keys, and drove away with the Rav4.”
Donna added that Matthews returned a short time later and gave back her keys and phone before telling her he had crashed the Rav4.
“[Donna] provided the full name of Chi Dave Matthews,” Officer Starbard said. “[Donna] said Chi was only a friend and denied that he was her boyfriend.”
Officer Starbard said Donna told him that Matthews had taken off on foot and was no longer inside the apartment.
“[Donna] also made vague statements about how hard domestic violence situations can be,” Officer Starbard said. Adding, “I then queried Chi Matthews and learned he has two warrants for his arrest, his driver’s license is suspended, and [Donna] has an active restraining order against Chi Matthews. [Donna] did not tell officers about the restraining order.”
Officer Matthews said Matthews was ordered to refrain from abusing Donna, stay away from her residence, have no contact with her, and remain at least 50 yards away from her.
He said Matthews was also ordered to remain at least 50 yards away from Donna’s 3-year-old daughter.
“Having this new information, Officer Cakounes and I re-contacted [Donna],” Officer Starbard said. “She then admitted to the existence of the restraining order. In so many words, [Donna] indicated she was afraid of Chi and this is why she allows him to violate the restraining order. She also made statements indicating she doesn’t trust the system in regards to domestic violence. With [Donna’s] consent, Officer Cakounes and I checked the interior of [Donna’s] apartment and confirmed Chi was not inside.”
Officer Starbard said Donna’s three-year-old daughter was in her bed, awake and on a tablet.
“[Donna] then stated she got word that Chi was picked up by an ex-girlfriend and was en route back to Springfield,” Officer Starbard said.
Officer Starbard said he believed there was probable cause to charge Chi D. Matthews, 42, of Springfield, with the following offenses:
- Violate Abuse Prevention Order
- Assault & Battery
- Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon (motor vehicle)
- Operating Motor Vehicle with License Suspended, Subsequent Offense
- Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle
Officer Starbard said he drafted a criminal citation to be mailed to Matthews’ last known address. A BOLO (“be on the lookout” alert) was also issued for Matthews after the Orange Police Department determined there was probable cause to arrest him for a restraining order violation.
Officer Starbard said Matthews had not been located at the time of the report and requested that a warrant be issued for his arrest “based on the likelihood he will continue to violate the restraining order, his obvious coercive control over [Donna], and his unknown whereabouts.”
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in May, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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