Man Arrested Outside Wilmington School Wednesday Arraigned

By Liz Taurasi and Joe Lipovich

WILMINGTON, MA - A man arrested at Wilmington's Shawsheen Elementary School following Wednesday's multi-town police chase was arraigned in Woburn District Court Thursday.

Keith Jones, 23, of Acton was arraigned in Woburn District Court Thursday. He has been charged with failure to stop for police, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, as well as having an outstanding arrest warrant.

WHDH reports Jones was animated in court, and accused the prosecution of lying about the speed he was traveling at. According to the report, his bail was set at $7,500, but that bail was revoked as Jones had a warrant out for his arrest.

A police pursuit out of Lawrence Wednesday morning ended with Jones' capture at Wilmington's Shawsheen Elementary School.

At approximately 10:25 a.m. Wednesday morning Wilmington Police received a call from Lawrence Police advising them they were pursing a black Jeep down Rte. 93 Southbound in Wilmington. Radio transmissions indicated the Jeep continued south on Rte. 93 and then South on Rte. 95 where it exited Rte. 38 in Woburn.

Police say at some point after the vehicle exited onto Rte. 38 in Woburn, a passenger in the Jeep jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot before later being arrested in Woburn. That individual has been identified as Odain Mark, 20, of Hyde Park who was located by State Police inside the Woburn Racquet Club where he was then placed under arrest on an outstanding warrant for Resisting Arrest and various motor vehicle charges.

From there the Jeep continued at a high rate of speed onto Chestnut Street in Wilmington. Officers observed the vehicle as it continued speeding down Chestnut Street to Rte. 62 to Rte. 38 North.

Wilmington Police, Tewksbury Police and State Police all observed the vehicle continue at high speeds before the Jeep entered the parking lot at the Shawsheen Elementary School, where the driver attempted to flee the vehicle. It was then the driver, Jones, was quickly taken into custody by officers in the school parking lot.

Shawsheen Elementary was placed in a temporary lockdown until the suspect was taken into custody and the scene was cleared.

Odain Mark, 20, of Hyde Park jumped out of the jeep while on Ward St., later making his way to the Woburn Racquet Club before Jones ended up in Wilmington. Police were able to arrest Mark inside the club. Mark was arrested on charges stemming from an outstanding warrant for resisting arrest, as well as various motor vehicle charges.

Mark did not appear in District Court Thursday, and it is unclear when he will be arraigned.

Photo Courtesy Wilmington Police