New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
On Thursday, March 4, at about 6:00 p.m. Wareham police officers were assisting at the scene of a structure fire on Cranberry Highway. Officers Christopher Smith, 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.
Lt. Correia attempted to stop a car speeding toward the fire, and had to run to the side of the road to avoid being struck. Officer Smith also tried to stop the vehicle; however, the operator swerved around two police cars. The vehicle then pulled into the parking lot of the burning building nearly striking Officer Cardoza.
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.
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., another vehicle broke through the barricade on Cranberry Highway at Ames Island Road near the fire scene. The vehicle drove over several fire hoses in the process. Officer Smith stopped the vehicle assisted by Sergeant Steve Soqui.
After an investigation, the officers believed the operator to be impaired and placed him under arrest. Ronald G. Laplant Jr. (41), of Bourne, is charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor, and driving over a fire hose.
