AUBURN — A Worcester man was arrested Thursday after fleeing from police and jumping into Stoneville Pond during a traffic stop.
Officers Andrew Markvenas and Jedadiah Henry were conducting traffic enforcement near Oxford Street North and Pinehurst Avenue around 10:30 a.m. when they encountered a BMW sedan stopped in traffic.
The officers discovered the driver’s license was suspended and believed the passenger was impaired and unable to take over driving duties.
During the investigation, the passenger, 24-year-old Jaheim Watters of Worcester, ran toward Stoneville Pond and dove in.
Watters began struggling in the water and needed to be rescued.
Officers Jason Brooks and Andrew Markvenas used a flotation device donated by the Manny 267 Foundation in honor of Worcester Police Officer Manny Familia to keep Watters afloat until Auburn Fire Department arrived.
While the water rescue was underway, Officer Derek Courchaine and Detective Jordan Ryan searched the BMW and found a loaded 9mm Glock with a 15-round magazine in the trunk.
Police said the firearm was connected to Watters, who does not have a license to carry a firearm in Massachusetts.
Watters received medical care and was arraigned in Worcester District Court on charges including carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of a large capacity firearm and possession to distribute a Class D substance.
He is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Sept. 5.
