A call from the New Jersey Department of Corrections made for an interesting afternoon in Newtown earlier this week.

According a press release, the Newtown Police Department was notified by New Jersey corrections on Tuesday (August 16) that at about 2:45 PM, the GPS system on an ankle bracelet used for people sentenced to house arrest pinged, and escapee Matthew R. Howarth was traveling north on South Main Street in Newtown.

Officers say they located Howarth in his Ford Taurus and the fugitive fled, crashing into another vehicle on South Main. The Ford was then found abandoned on Grand Pl. after a resident reported a strange man running through their lawn.

Soon, Matthew R. Howarth was spotted on the property at St. Rose of Lima Church, where officers engaged in a pursuit on foot. According to the press release, Howarth hid under a stairway at St. Rose Catholic Elementary School until the Newtown PD took him into custody.

Among other driving infractions, Howarth has been charged with interfering, engaging in pursuit, and being a fugitive from justice. He was held on a $100,000 bond, and was scheduled to appear at Danbury Superior Court.

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