May 25, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Connolly 508-368-7236
Or 508-688-5565
WORCESTER – A 23-year-oldGrafton man died last night after he dove into Lake Quinsigamond while fleeing UMass Police, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Joseph Martin, 23, of 7 Follette St., Grafton, was pulled from the water off Regatta Point by the Worcester Fire Department dive team. He was declared dead at 7:45 p.m. in the emergency room of the University of Massachusetts-Memorial Hospital. An apparent drowning, the case was accepted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Mr. Martin was in his car and parked in a restricted area of the UMass campus. He had an open container of alcohol and white powder in a plastic bag in the car. When a UMass Police Officer asked him to get out of the car, Mr. Martin ran for the lake.
At one point, Mr. Martin held up two rocks, threatening to strike two officers who were pursuing him. Mr. Martin swam into deeper water, ignoring the officers’ warnings.
The State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office are investigating.