Full Notification

On Monday evening, 3/23/20, in the Ignacio area of Novato, a Novato Police Officer on routine patrol saw a 2020 BMW make an unsafe lane change. When the officer activated his emergency lights and pulled behind the BMW, the car did not immediately pull over.  After passing many safe locations to pull to the side of the road, the BMW came to the end of a dead-end street.

The BMW turned around suddenly and accelerated quickly in an attempt to flee from the officer. The driver then ran his BMW into the officer’s patrol car, which provided enough space to drive past as he fled to Hwy 101. The officer was not injured by the collision and, despite his vehicle being damaged, was able to pursue the BMW.  Additional NPD units responded to assist as did units from the California Highway Patrol.

On Hwy 101, the driver lost control of the BMW and hit a freeway retaining wall, just north of Atherton Ave.  Following the arrest of the driver, our officer noticed a handgun and other suspicious items in the car. 

Based on the nature of the located items, Marin County Major Crimes Task Force (MCMCTF) detectives responded to the scene to assist. After searching the car, detectives found a loaded handgun, over 3 pounds of suspected Methamphetamine, over 400 Oxycodone pills, as well as Ketamine, MDMA, and Cocaine. Also found were 21 cell phones and 13 laptops and over $50,000 in cash.  

The driver was the only person in the vehicle.  He was identified as Matthew Mistachkin, 38, of San Rafael.  Mistachkin appeared uninjured but was transported to the hospital, due to severity of the collision on the freeway, by Novato Fire Protection District paramedics. After being cleared by hospital staff, Mistachkin was taken to the Marin County Jail by Novato Police for assaulting the officer with his car, as well as fleeing from the scene in his vehicle.  

Additional charges against him for the possession of narcotics with the intent to sell and being a felon in possession of a handgun are being requested by MCMCTF.  

We would like to thank the Marin County Major Crimes Task Force (MCMCTF) for their assistance in this case as well as the Novato Fire Protection District and the California Highway Patrol.  We are very grateful for our collaborative Partner agencies and appreciate the immediate response. 

This investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Novato Police Department at 415-897-4361 or the Marin County Major Crimes Task Force via their Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-369-4694.