SOUTHBRIDGE, MA — Two people were arrested after fleeing from a stolen vehicle parked near a cemetery on Friday.
An officer on patrol near the intersection of Cliff Street and Clemence Hill Road spotted a vehicle suspected to be stolen parked along the edge of the Saint George Cemetery property at approximately 5:06 p.m.
After confirming the vehicle was reported stolen, the officer approached and discovered two occupants had fled on foot into a wooded area.
Additional officers arrived and established a perimeter around the area.
A police drone was deployed to assist in the search.
Officers located a female hiding in a wooded area behind the cemetery a short time later.
The woman was secured without incident.
Officers then received a report of a barefoot male matching the second suspect’s description walking in the area of Worcester Street.
Officers located the man, who was suffering from numerous cuts and injuries consistent with traveling through dense woods.
He was positively identified as the driver of the stolen vehicle and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation before being taken into custody.
Officers recovered an amount of suspected crack cocaine inside the stolen vehicle and near a residence connected to the incident.
Juan Mercado, 45, of Fall River, was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle (joint venture) and possession of class B crack cocaine.
Tara Anderson, 41, of Worcester, was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle (joint venture) and possession of class B crack cocaine.
Both were held at Southbridge Police Headquarters pending their release on bail and arraignment in Dudley District Court on Monday.
