Freetown, Massachusetts -- Three men thought they had a brilliant plan to get quick police response when their car broke down on Route 24 Tuesday night.
Their unique strategy got police there in a hurry, all right. But it also landed the trio in the slammer.
Police said passing motorists alerted Freetown, Berkley and state police of a fight on the highway at about 10:15 p.m.
As Freetown Police Officer Scott Rose arrived at the scene, he saw a car parked in the breakdown lane and three men fighting nearby.
"They were throwing punches at each other and rolling on the ground," Rose reported.
After they stood up when the officer arrived, Rose ordered them back down to the ground and handcuffed them until additional officers arrived, police stated.
Freetown Sgt. Charles Sullivan was one of the officers at the scene who interviewed the supposed combatants.
"Their car had mechanical problems, so they were waiting for assistance," he said. "They got the bright idea that in order to get a quick police response, they would stage a fight so that motorists would call the police."
Vincent Deluca, 18, of 239 Nickels Road, Taunton, Corey Farcas, 17, of 901 Park Place, Raynham, and Joseph Cullen, 18, of 9 Bloomfield St., Dorchester, were arrested and each charged with disorderly conduct.
The three spent some time at the Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth before their appearance Wednesday in Fall River Trial Court.
At the request of the commonwealth, Judge Gilbert J. Nadeau Jr. dismissed the charges
