PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. (Warren County) — A Warren County man was arrested early Wednesday after allegedly firing gunshots into an occupied residence in Phillipsburg, authorities said.
According to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, officers with the Phillipsburg Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter alert around 2:00 a.m. on the 100 block of Lewis Street. Police arriving at the scene discovered that two rounds had been fired into a home. No injuries were reported.
Investigators later identified the suspect as Matthew R. Dawe, 32, of Phillipsburg through area surveillance footage. A search warrant was executed shortly afterward at 108 Lewis Street, where authorities recovered a loaded .40-caliber Taurus handgun. Dawe was taken into custody and, during processing, refused to be fingerprinted, officials said.
Dawe faces several charges, including second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree being a certain person not to possess a weapon. He was also charged with refusing fingerprinting, a disorderly persons offense.
He is being held at the Warren County Correctional Center pending a court hearing on the State’s motion for pretrial detention, which is expected during the week of Aug. 4.
Second-degree offenses in New Jersey carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. Disorderly persons offenses carry a maximum sentence of six months in the county jail.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Warren County Regional Crime Scene Team, the Warren County Tactical Response Team, and the Lopatcong Township Police Department. Authorities credited their cooperation for the swift response.
