Newton man arrested for second time in two days

When the Newton Police Department arrested a Newton man Tuesday night, it was the second time in less than 48 hours he had been taken into custody.

John A. Schutty, 68, was charged with assault for allegedly using his vehicle as a weapon based on an incident at a Newton furniture store. According to an NPD news release, Schutty is accused of following a woman by car into the Store for Homes parking lot at First Avenue West and 17th Street West, and motioning for her to get out of the car.

When the woman tried to pull away, Schutty allegedly drove his vehicle at the woman's car. The woman was able to swerve and avoid colliding with Schutty's vehicle, and she then drove herself and her occupants to the Newton police station downtown at about 9 p.m.

Schutty was located and arrested, charged with assault (an aggravated misdemeanor) and taken to Jasper County Jail. He's being held there on a $50,000, cash-only bond.

Early Monday morning, Schutty was charged with assault and fifth-degree theft after the Newton Police Department found him in his vehicle at Git-N-Go, 801 First Ave. W., at 12:12 a.m. He allegedly displayed a gun at a convenience store earlier, and he was found to have "several loaded firearms" inside his vehicle.

A clerk also said that he didn't fully pay for a can of Red Bull, leading to the theft charge.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com