Police: Hopatcong Man Wanted in High-Speed Chase Arrested at Rockaway Motel

A Hopatcong man who eluded officers on a high-speed chase earlier this week was apprehended at a Rockaway Township motel, police said.

Robert Walthour, 25, has been charged with second-degree eluding, criminal mischief, reckless driving, failure to keep right, failure to keep right, failure to follow marked lines, passing on the double yellow lines and speeding.

According to Lt. Thomas Kmetz, officers responded to a Lakeside Boulevard home for a reported dispute at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. A relative told the officers Walthour had thrown items around the house and left in a black Honda, Kmetz said.

The relative then spotted Walthour nearby at Atno's truck lot. As an officer approached the parking lot, Walthour ran to his car, backed up, spun around on the gravel and went up an embankment heading into the turn lane on Lakeside Boulevard, according to Kmetz.

The officer tried to catch Walthour, who was driving at a high rate of speed and passing other vehicles, Kmetz said. Walthour went onto Old Lakeside Boulevard in speeds exceeding 75 miles per hour, Kmetz said.

As Walthour approached Hudson Maxim School, the officers called off the pursuit.

Rockaway Township Police spotted Walthour's car outside a motel where he was arrested.

Walthour was lodged at the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.