WAREHAM — Wareham Police arrested two men in separate incidents Thursday night while assisting at the scene of a three-alarm fire.

The fire was reported at around 6 p.m. on March 4 at 2843 Cranberry Highway, in a building that formerly housed an electrical supply company and now is home to an auto repair shop.

Wareham Police officers were assisting at the scene, and Officer Christopher Smith, Officer Joseph Cardoza, and Lieutenant Walter Correia had shut down a section of the highway to allow firefighters to run hoses from a fire hydrant to the fire scene.

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Lt. Correia attempted to stop a car speeding toward the fire, and police say he had to run to the side of the road to avoid being struck. Officer Smith also tried to stop the vehicle; however, according to police, the operator swerved around two police cars. They say the vehicle then pulled into the parking lot of the burning building, nearly striking Officer Cardoza.

According to police, the operator jumped out of the car and headed toward the burning building, with Officer Cardoza yelling for him to stop. The male who had been driving the car now attempted to get in the building. Officer Cardoza pulled the man back; however, he tried to break free and go back to the building. Officer Cardoza, assisted by Officer Smith, placed the male under arrest.

Courtesy Wareham Police
Courtesy Wareham Police
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Christopher Ferland, 21, of East Wareham, is charged with disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop for a police officer.

Later, at about 8:30 p.m., police say another vehicle broke through the barricade on Cranberry Highway at Ames Island Road near the fire scene and drove over several fire hoses in the process. Officer Smith stopped the vehicle assisted by Sergeant Steve Soqui.

Courtesy Wareham Police
Courtesy Wareham Police
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After an investigation, the officers believed the operator to be impaired and placed him under arrest. Ronald G. Laplante Jr., 41, of Bourne, is charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor, and driving over a fire hose.

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