Story by Ethan
On July 30th, 2025, the arrest of Matthew R. Dawe, age 32, was announced by Acting Warren County Prosecutor Jessica L. Cardone. Matthew R. Dawe was charged with second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second-degree Aggravated Assault, second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second-degree Being a Certain Persons Not to Possess a Weapon, and a disorderly persons offense of refusing officers to fingerprint him during the arrest process. The arrest and charges against Matthew R. Dawe were a result of an investigation handled by the Phillipsburg Police Department, Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Warren County Regional Crime Scene Team, Warren County Tactical Response Team, and Lopatcong Township Police Department.
According to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, officers from the Phillipsburg Police Department responded to the 100 block of Lewis Street due to an alert received on the town’s ShotSpotter at approximately 2:00 a.m. on July 30th, 2025. Once officers arrived at the scene they noted that two shots were fired in a residence with no injuries being reported, and recovered security footage led to the identification of Matthew R. Dawe as a main suspect. A court-authorized search warrant was conjured and executed at 108 Lewis Street, Phillipsburg, New Jersey. From the search officers uncovered a .40 caliber Taurus handgun and Matthew R. Dawe was arrested, during which he refused law enforcement to obtain his fingerprint during the arrest process.
The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Matthew R. Dawe are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
