Wareham Police say a sheriff's deputy and his K-9 partner caught a man who drove from an altercation in a residential neighborhood then ran from a rolling car into a swampy area near the town's middle school.

According to a media release, Thursday at around 11 p.m. Wareham police officers responded to Bodfish Avenue for a reported fight. Officers learned that a vehicle connected to the incident had already fled the area. Within minutes, Sgt. Kevin Reilly spotted a vehicle matching the description and tried to stop it near the Wareham Plaza on Marion Road.

The vehicle did not stop but instead turned into the Wareham Town Hall parking lot. The operator jumped out and ran away toward Spillane Field. Plymouth County Deputy Sheriff Scott Sawler and K-9 “Lucky” were quickly on the scene and began a search for the man. Sawler and Lucky located the suspect hiding in a swampy area near the Wareham Middle School tennis courts, and placed him in custody.

Sergeant Reilly and Wareham Officer Malik Wilkes conducted a search of the car and police say they found glassine bags containing suspected illegal narcotics.

Whiting had not put the car in park when he hopped out, and the vehicle continued to roll, according to police. A passenger in the car was able to push the shifter into the park position and the vehicle finally stopped.

Geoffrey Whiting, 34, of East Wareham, is charged with failure to stop for police, marked lanes violation, possession of a Class E drug, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

The passenger, Mark St. George, 31, of Wareham, will be summoned to court for possession of a Class E drug.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420