A Forsyth County man was arrested for allegedly ramming two Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles with an SUV while attempting to flee from sheriff’s office deputies.

Joseph Nicholas Matia, 24, of Forsyth County was taken into custody late Sunday evening after deputies performing a welfare check at his south Forsyth residence were told by a family member that he had fled the area , was threatening to kill himself and “the entire family," and had taken a .357 magnum handgun belonging to his father, reports state.

According to Cpl. Doug Rainwater of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Matia and his tan Ford Expedition was quickly located by deputies on Campground Road. Matia allegedly attempted to elude pursuit by turning into the Calamar subdivision in south Forsyth.

Rainwater said that when Matia stopped his vehicle in the subdivision, he allegedly held the .357 magnum to his own head, threatened to kill himself if the deputies approached his vehicle and rammed past two patrol cars when they attempted to box him in.

Neither deputy was injured in the ramming, but according to Rainwater, Matia’s vehicle was able to get past the patrol cars, leaving a significant amount of damage to both.

"He rammed the two patrol cars in front of him and we gave chase," Rainwater said.

Matia was caught again shortly after his vehicle was forced to a stop by deputies executing a pit maneuver, a method of forcing a vehicle to turn and stop.

"Our deputies stood their ground outside his Expedition and we convinced him to put the gun down," Rainwater said. 

After being evaluated at a local hospital, Matia was booked into the Forsyth County Jail on a number of different felony charges including, interference with government property, possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of a felony, possession of a schedule I controlled substance for “THC cartridges” allegedly found in his vehicle, and fleeing or attempting to elude a felony offense.

Rainwater said Matia is being held on $50,675 bond.