WESTMINSTER — A 53-year-old Putney man was arrested June 5 after fleeing from deputies and prompting a manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
James R. Rowe was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant for a furlough violation at approximately 1 p.m. near Faith’s Ford on U.S. Route 5, according to the Windham County Sheriff’s Office.
Rowe’s underlying conviction was for sexual assault on a minor.
Deputies attempted to contact Rowe after receiving information about his whereabouts, but he fled on foot across an open farm field and into a wooded area along the Connecticut River.
Area schools were notified of the police presence during the search.
The Windham County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Bellows Falls Police Department, Vermont State Police, Walpole Police Department and Windsor County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit.
Officers in a boat on the Connecticut River spotted Rowe on an embankment in Westminster.
Rowe was taken into custody without incident shortly after.
He is being held on the Department of Corrections commissioner’s arrest warrant.
