EXETER, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — A man is behind bars after police say he stole two vehicles, threatened to kill a homeowner and led authorities on a search through a wooded area in Luzerne County.
Wyoming Area Regional Police identified the suspect as Matthew Rosengrant, who is facing multiple felony charges and other offenses stemming from a series of incidents early Sunday morning.
Police were called to a home along Route 92 in Exeter Township around 4:59 a.m. Aug. 16 for a report of an unknown man on the property. As officers responded, additional 911 calls reported the man was driving around the property and crashing into trees.
Investigators allege Rosengrant arrived in a Chevrolet Captiva that had been stolen from a business in Courtdale Borough the previous evening.
According to police, Rosengrant repeatedly drove around the Route 92 residence before approaching the front door and attempting to get inside.
The homeowner later encountered Rosengrant behind the home, where police allege Rosengrant threatened to kill the homeowner while advancing toward him.
Rosengrant then allegedly returned to the stolen Chevrolet, continued driving around the property and crashed into trees before abandoning the vehicle and running into a wooded area.
Officers searched the surrounding area with assistance from a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter but were unable to immediately locate him.
Investigators said they later recovered physical evidence, surveillance video, GPS information and other evidence allegedly connecting Rosengrant to the incident. Police said the homeowner also identified Rosengrant from a photo array.
Police allege Rosengrant traveled through the woods after leaving the Route 92 property and stole a second vehicle about 24 minutes later.
Investigators said a Subaru Legacy was stolen from a Wilson Street residence in Exeter Township around 5:23 a.m. Surveillance video allegedly captured the theft.
The Subaru was later recovered in Wyoming Borough.
Police also found property inside the stolen Chevrolet that they say was connected to another residence along Route 92. That portion of the investigation remains under review.
Rosengrant was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Carmody and sent to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Courtdale and Forty Fort police departments and Pennsylvania State Police assisted with the investigation.