Oolitic Man Found Hiding in Attic After Police Threaten Search Warrant 🚨🏚️

A 47-year-old Oolitic man was booked into the Lawrence County Jail Monday afternoon after local town marshals and county deputies discovered him hiding inside an attic crawl space in direct violation of an active protective order.

Matthew Robbins was arrested on June 8, 2026, by the Oolitic Marshal's Office.

The 911 Response

At approximately 1:43 p.m., Officer S. Hickman was notified of a 911 call originating from a residence in the 300 block of 6th Street in Oolitic. Upon reviewing the dispatch information, Officer Hickman recognized the address and knew from past history that Robbins was subject to an active, legally binding protective order barring him from the property and from contacting the female homeowner.

When the officer arrived on scene, he observed the homeowner's gray Dodge Challenger parked in the driveway. Officer Hickman knocked on the front door multiple times and loudly announced his presence, but received no response from anyone inside.

The Attic Discovery

Recognizing the high probability of a protective order breach, Officer Hickman requested immediate backup from the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department. Multiple units, including Sergeant R. Compton and Deputies Flynn and Paschall, arrived on scene to assist.

Following additional attempts to make contact, the homeowner finally answered the door. She claimed she had been in the shower and initially stated that Robbins was not on the premises. However, when Sergeant Compton informed her that officers were moving forward with securing a judicial search warrant for the residence, she relented and admitted that Robbins was hiding in the attic.

The Apprehension

The homeowner granted formal consent for the officers to enter the residence and guided them to the specific ceiling access panel where Robbins had climbed into the roof space.

Robbins initially ignored multiple verbal commands shouting up into the crawl space. After a prolonged standoff, he eventually responded to Sergeant Compton and climbed down from the ceiling. Robbins cooperated with arresting officers once on the ground, was placed in double-locked handcuffs, and was successfully transported to the Lawrence County Jail.

Preliminary Charges: 🔹 Invasion of Privacy (Class A Misdemeanor)

Case Number: O26-00031 Arresting Officer: Officer S. Hickman, Oolitic Marshal's Office

Disclaimer: All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.