The saga began when a man escaped police custody after a traffic stop just south of New Richland Oct. 1. Despite a massive search, which included a helicopter, authorities were unable to locate the man, who ran through the corn fields toward town, prompting a lockdown at NRHEG Schools.

The man apparently made his way into town and to the Harrington home on S. Broadway Ave., where he made off with the vehicle. He was arrested last week on multiple warrants for failure to appear in court in Minnesota and South Dakota.

Harrington, who didn’t expect the car to be missing this long, wasn’t sure how to feel about driving to Madison to pick it up.

“It was gone just shy of two weeks,” said Harrington, who spoke to an officer from Madison about the car’s condition.

“He just said the man has lived in it for two weeks,” said Harrington. “There’s a cigarette burn in the upholstery. It’s pretty messed up.”

The whole ordeal has left Harrington a bit wary.

“Whoever thought,” he said, “that would happen in New Richland?”