Man Accused of Fatally Shooting Taylor Officer Has Long Criminal Record

TAYLOR, Mich. - No charges yet involving the shooting death of Taylor Police Officer Matthew Edwards. Investigators are trying to determine if the suspect used a gun stolen from another police department. Meanwhile, the man accused of pulling the trigger has a lengthy criminal record.

FOX 2 took a look at Tyress Mathews' rap sheet and it appears he is no stranger to Downriver police departments, and there are many who say he should have never been out of jail.

"I remember hearing the crash of the car taking out the awning and the fence and stuff, and then there was just lights everywhere," said Jim McDonald from Lincoln Park.

He will never forget the night Mathews led police on a chase that ended just steps from his home. It happened more than four years ago.

"The guy got out of the car and the cops chased him," McDonald said.

Now, that same man is accused of killing Taylor Police Officer Matthew Edwards.

"It's pretty upsetting. It's pretty scary, actually," said Alec McDonald from Lincoln Park.

But records show Mathews life of violent crime started long before Edwards murder. In September 1990, when he was just 16 years old, police say Mathews carjacked a man in Inkster then shot him five times. The man survived. A few months later in March of 1991, police say Mathews was behind a shooting in Dearborn. He was tried as an adult for both crimes.

Then in 2002, he was arrested again in Inkster for carrying a concealed weapon. In 2005, he was arrested for robbery and stalking. The whole time he was in and out jail.

"When you look at most of these guys that have done this... it just seems like everybody just keeps slapping them on the hands, letting them out and slapping them on the hands until they commit murder," said Diane Philpot with MyCop.

Her husband was a Detroit Police officer that was killed in the line of duty. She says criminals like Mathews could be stopped sooner if they were only kept behind bars.

"What if somebody would've actually looked at his rap sheet at said, 'Oh, well shoot, he shouldn't be out.' But how many people looked at it and said, 'No. We'll just give him a slap on the hand. You come back for your arraignment,'" Philpot said.

That's a question that remains unanswered.

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FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR OFFICER EDWARDS

Visitation for Officer Edwards will be held at the Howe-Petersen Funeral Home, which is located at 9800 Telegraph in Taylor. There will be a public viewing on Tuesday July 27 from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. and another on Wednesday, July 28 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The funeral will be held at noon on Thursday, July 29 at the Beacon Baptist Church, located at 21721 Northline Road in Taylor. There will also be a public viewing on that day at 11:00 a.m.