He was apprehended by the police at a guest house in Hanover about 1 a.m. on Wednesday, the sources say.
It comes a day before he was expected to surrender to police.
Townsend's body was recovered from the sea in Reading, St James, on Friday, October 21.
It is reported that about 9:30 a.m., persons went to the beach and discovered a decomposing body floating in the water.
They summoned the police.
The police sought assistance from their colleagues in the marine division to remove the body from the water.
A towel covered in what appeared to have been blood and a wig were among the items removed from the scene.
