Arrested: Matthew Lehigh, 31, Boise
Charges: Aggravated Assault (F)-3 counts, Malicious Injury to property (m)
On 10/12/2022 around 2:08 pm Boise Police responded to a report of a hit and run on the 1000 block of N. Americana Blvd. Evidence showed a male driver yelled a threat and a homophobic slur at two women. The women were standing next to their vehicle when the suspect intentionally drove his car at them, the women quickly moved out of the way and the suspect’s vehicle struck the victim’s vehicle. The suspect then fled the scene.
Officers immediately began searching for the suspect and his vehicle. Detectives from the Violent Crime Unit located the vehicle and the suspect in a parking lot on the 8200 block of W. Fairview Ave. around 4:30 p.m. The suspect was identified as Matthew Lehigh.
Detectives had been searching for Lehigh since he and his vehicle were involved in another similar incident on 10/8/2022 on the 700 block of S. Capitol Blvd. Evidence showed the suspect hit a victim on the arm and used the same homophobic slur. A member of the business’ security staff followed the suspect into the parking lot. Evidence shows the suspect then intentionally drove his vehicle toward the security staff member forcing him to jump out of the way. The suspect then fled the scene.
After further investigation, Matthew Lehigh was arrested and booked into the Ada County Jail on the listed charges. Detectives are continuing to investigate as evidence shows Lehigh may be involved in other recent crimes targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Anyone with additional information about the suspect, or if you’ve been the victim of possible crimes and not spoken with police, we encourage you to please contact Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790, you can also make an anonymous tip to Crimestoppers at 208-343-COPS or contact our LGTBQ Liaison Officer Dan Lister at dlister@Cityofboise.org.