Man Leads Police On Chase After Canceled Braintree Protest: PD

BRAINTREE, MA — A Randolph man was arrested after police said he led police on a chase from the South Shore Plaza, the site of a canceled protest of the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died Memorial Day in the custody of the Minneapolis police. Braintree police said the demonstration was canceled after they received reports that there were plans to loot the South Shore Plaza.

Wesley Goodman, 20 was charged with failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operation of an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, unlawful possession of fireworks and number plate violation.

The mall was closed around 7 p.m. Monday, and a large police presence was summoned to keep anyone away without a legitimate reason for being there, according to police. Police said anyone who refused to leave would face potential trespassing charges.

Around 7:15 p.m., police said Goodman was speeding in the area, and officers tried to pull him over. Goodman refused to stop and drove through the fence separating the South Shore Plaza from Flaherty Elementary School, police said.

Braintree police called off their brief pursuit and notified local police departments to be on the look out for Goodman's Nissan Altima. Around 7:30 p.m., Randolph police said they found Goodman driving on North Main Street

Police said they tried pulling Goodman over, but he refused to stop and drove through a red light at the intersection of North Main Street and Scanlon Street.

Goodman swerved around other cars and headed down Harrison Boulevard in Avon before leading police on a chase down Route 24 northbound, police said. Police said the damage to Goodman's car eventually forced him to slow down, and officers were able to box him in just after exit 20B in Stoughton.

Goodman was arrested, and police said they found a large amount of fireworks in his trunk. He had three passengers in the vehicle, but police said Goodman was acting on his own, and the others were released.