AUBURN — On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Officers Andrew Markvenas and Jedadiah Henry of the Auburn Police Department were conducting traffic enforcement near Oxford Street North and Pinehurst Avenue when they observed a BMW sedan stopped in traffic.
According to a statement from the Auburn Police Department, the officers stopped to check the vehicle and discovered that the driver’s license was suspended.
“The passenger of the vehicle was unable to take over operation as officers believed that he was impaired,” the Auburn Police Department said in its statement. Adding, “As Officers Markvenas and Henry began their investigation, the passenger, 24-year-old Jaheim Watters of Worcester, decided his best option was to channel his inner Michael Phelps and sprint toward Stoneville Pond. Shortly after diving in, Jaheim realized running away from the police probably isn’t such a good idea.”
According to the Auburn Police Department, Watters began to struggle in the water and needed to be rescued.
“Officers Jason Brooks and Andrew Markvenas grabbed the department’s ‘Manny Tube’ which was donated to [us] by the Manny 267 Foundation in honor of Worcester Police Officer Manny Familia, and jumped in to keep him afloat until the Auburn Fire Department arrived to pull him out,” the Auburn Police Department said in its statement.
While Officers Markvenas and Brooks assisted near the water, Officer Derek Courchaine and Detective Jordan Ryan remained with the BMW, where they discovered a loaded 9mm Glock with a 15-round magazine in the trunk. According to police, the firearm was linked to Watters, who does not have a license to carry a firearm in Massachusetts.
Watters was provided medical care, the Auburn Police Department said.
Jaheim Watters, 24, of Worcester, was charged with the following:
- Carrying a loaded firearm without a license
- Possession of a large capacity feeding device
- Possession of a large capacity firearm
- Possess to distribute Class D drug
Watters was arraigned in Worcester District Court on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Worcester District Court. Following his arraignment, Watters was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing which is scheduled for September 5, 2025.
