Forestdale man runs red light, tries to outrun Wareham police

Caught on the train tracks sporting a court-ordered ankle monitoring device

Joseph Pennini faces charges after trying to outrun the law. WPD booking photo.

WAREHAM -  A Forestdale man who should not have been driving in the first place, was arrested early Friday morning after trying to outrun (and outdrive) Wareham police. According to Wareham Lt. Kevin Walsh, Officer Stephen Kearney watched a man blow through a red light at Main Avenue and Route 6 and 28 Friday morning around 1 a.m. Officer Kearney pursued the driver and signaled for him to pull over, at which time, the driver, identified as Joseph Pennini, 28, of 10 Linda Lane in Forestdale, sped up.

Pennini turned into an Onset neighborhood in an effort to shake Officer Kearney, police said. Pennini left the neighborhood and turned onto Minot Ave., at which time he abruptly brought the vehicle to a stop and fled on foot.

Responding officers located Pennini within minutes running on the train tracks towards Depot Street. Officers Kevin Reilly and John Iacobucci arrested Pennini on the tracks after a brief struggle, police said.

Pennini had the keys to the abandoned vehicle in his pocket and was sporting a court-ordered ankle monitoring device from a previous OUI conviction, police said.

He was booked at the Wareham Police Station and charged with failing to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and operating after license suspension (previous OUI conviction). Pennini is scheduled to be arraigned in Wareham Fourth District Court Friday.