Arrest Warrant Issued For Man Charged with Harassment In Relation to the Birchwood Townhome Fire

Washington County District Court Judge Gregory G. Galler issued a warrant for the arrest of Matthew Lee Peck, 26, after the Byron (Minn.) man failed to appear in court on Dec. 14. 

Peck was scheduled to make his first appearance in court to face felony harassment charges but, when he didn't show, Galler issued the warrant. 

Peck is accused of allegedly sending his ex-girlfriend—and mother of his child—dozens of threatening text messages over a 17-month period.

According to the on Nov. 9, the text messages referred to the sender knowing everything the woman does—including all calls, texts and Facebook activity.

The messages also said the sender knew her routine—including when her kids went to daycare—and threatened to send people after her and break into her house.

One message said the sender would “get you.”

On July 12, the day before the , the woman received 16 text messages, all of which were disguised as messages from email addresses and phone numbers belonging to her friends and neighbors at the townhome complex.

A post-arrest forensic investigation of Peck's computer confirmed he did indeed send the messages to the woman via a software program called www.textem.net which allows a user to disguise the origin of a message.

Investigators believe the Birchwood Townhomes blaze was set intentionally, but arson charges have not been filed against anyone.