JASPER CO.–Newton city authorities responded to a report of a domestic late Thursday morning, July 17, and happened upon something more.
Authorities say when they arrived along South Van Buren Street in Newton at 10:49 a.m. for the domestic, officers further discovered that a 2003 Volvo involved in the incident was stolen from Tennessee.
The male involved in the domestic, was later identified as Kenny D. Mathis, 33, had furnished false information to police then left the scene.
At about 4:02 p.m. a 2008 Ford Escape owned by Jennifer Britton of Newton was stolen from Peterson Park. The vehicle was locked and had been broken into.
A chase led police to an area north and east of Newton near Sam Parr State Park. At this point Mathis drove the vehicle into a corn field and fled. He was then apprehended at about 10:21 p.m.
Assisting city police were the Jasper County sheriff’s office, ISP, Illinois Conservation Police, Jasper Co. EMA, Region 9 ILEAS Team members and the Wade Township Fire Department.
Mathis has been charged so far with Obstruction of a Police Officer and Unlawful Possession of Stolen Vehicle. Additional charges may be filed later pending the outcome of the investigation.
Mathis is currently being held in the Jasper County jail awaiting bond to be set.