Sumter man charged with kidnapping, assaulting family members

A Sumter man was arrested Sunday for kidnapping and assaulting his mother and sister according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Matt Cox, 46, was charged with two counts of Kidnapping and one count each of Assault and battery of a High and Aggravated nature and Assault and Battery, first degree, said Sumter public information liaison Ken Bell.

Between July 15 and July 17, Cox choked his sister, threw her to the ground, put his knee to her chest, drug her from the bed and poked her with a sword in a residence located at 1297 Mooneyham Road, said Bell, adding Cox duct-taped her mouth and body and threatened to kill her.

In May, Cox threatened to kill his mother, choked her with a scarf and duct-taped her body before attempting to handcuff her, Bell said.

When officers attempted to serve the warrants on Cox, he poured gasoline throughout the house and barricaded himself in a bathroom where he set a small rug on fire, according to Bell, adding other charges including arson and one count of attempted murder on eight officers are forthcoming.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 12:29 AM with the headline "Sumter man charged with kidnapping, assaulting family members."