A man with nine outstanding arrest warrants was arrested for trying to break into a Springfield school in the early morning hours of Thursday, August 25.

At about 3:55 AM, the Vermont State Police responded to a fire alarm at Riverside Middle School in Springfield. Police say Brett P. Lawton, 35, of Chester had broken a large window and forced entry into the school. Lawton was transported to Springfield Hospital for treatment of self-inflicted injuries sustained at the scene. 

Lawton had 9 outstanding in-state arrest warrants. He was later discharged from the hospital, and was transported to Southern State Correctional Facility. Lawton was later issued a criminal citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Windsor Criminal Division, on October 18 for the charges of Burglary and Unlawful Mischief.

Among other charges, Lawton was arrested this February for attempted theft of catalytic converters from a repair shop in Readsboro.