OCSD find wanted man hiding under floor of Tecumseh home

The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department officers found Matthew Paul Deever, a defendant who was wanted by police in Greene and Webster Counties for active warrants in various cases, underneath the floor of a Tecumseh-area home July 29. 

A post made to the OCSD Facebook page said Sheriff Cass Martin received information that Deever was hiding in the residence, and he, along with Sgt. Justin Brown, Deputy Cecilia Boatner and Deputy Alan Daffron and K9 Officer Rye, surrounded the home in the late night hours and made contact with a woman inside the residence who identified herself as the property owner and gave the officers consent to search the house for Deever. 

“In the initial search, Mr. Deever was not located, but a trap-door in the floor leading to an area under the residence was discovered,” the post said. “Sgt. Brown entered the area and located Mr. Deever hiding behind a small structure under the residence and suffering from a large cut to his arm that occurred when he attempted to go through the trap-door to hide from deputies.”

Deever was taken into custody without incident. He received first aid by on-scene deputies for injuries he sustained, and he was later transported to a local hospital for treatment. Deever was arrested and taken to the Ozark County Jail, where he was held until he was surrendered to the Greene County Sheriff’s Department. It is unclear if the woman was aware of his presence.  

The first warrant was issued in a Greene County case where he’s charged with three counts of tampering with a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage exceeding $1,000, driving with a revoked or suspended license and resisting or interfering with an arrest, detention or stop. 

The second warrant was issued in a Webster County case where he is charged with resisting or interfering with an arrest and operating a vehicle on highway without a valid license.