A sex offender who was wanted for alleged crimes in Forsyth County is dead after a shootout with authorities in Florida this past weekend.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office posted to social media Thursday morning that its fugitive unit was tracking Matthew Steven Rollie and learned he was in DeSoto County, Florida. Rollie was accused of enticing a child in Forsyth County for indecent purposes.
The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office said they pulled over Rollie on a roadway just outside of Arcadia in the early morning hours Saturday. Rollie was the passenger in the car that was pulled over, and he reportedly began shooting at deputies.
"During the process of identifying Rollie, he armed himself with a firearm inside of the vehicle and began firing at the deputies, striking one of the deputies multiple times," a post by the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office said. "The deputies returned fire and Rollie was pronounced deceased at the scene."
The deputy who was shot was reportedly seriously injured, but is recovering at last report.
"I spoke with Desoto County Sheriff Potter early Saturday morning to express my gratitude and our concern for his wounded Deputy," Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman said. "We really hate that one of their brave deputies was injured taking down one of our bad guys."
Freeman said he is looking to put together a care package to send to DeSoto County authorities. Those interested are asked to either message the sheriff's office on social media or email the office's Director of External Communications Stacie Miller at [email protected].
