Knife-Carrying Vernon Man Arrested Near Courthouse For Skipping Court

VERNON, CT — A weapons charge was added to the file of a Vernon man after his arrest Sunday for skipping court in four outstanding cases.

Matthew Buckland, 50, was located at an East Main Street restaurant in the Rockville Section of Vernon — just down the street from the regional courthouse — Sunday at 5:02 p.m., police said. As he was being taken into custody, what police described as a 5-inch folding knife in a sheath was discovered on him and officers added the charge of carrying a dangerous weapon to the litany of charges he is already facing, according to police reports.

Judicial system records show that two warrants were for larceny charges, one was for for first-degree criminal trespass and the fourth was for drug-related offenses. All have corresponding failure to appear charges, records show.

Along with the dangerous weapon charge, Buckland's bonds totaled $12,500, but, during a Monday court appearance, they were reduced to promises to appear on Feb. 6, judicial system records show