MARBLEHEAD — Police are questioning how a stolen car ended up submerged in the ocean Wednesday, though they said the incident could have something to do with troublemakers who trespassed on the high school football field early that morning.
Police were first notified of a vehicle in the water at Grace Oliver Beach off Beacon Street at 11:10 a.m., the department said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
Officers and the Marblehead harbormaster immediately responded to the beach and determined the red SUV sticking out of the water was not occupied, according to the statement. The Salem Police Dive team was also brought in to assist.
The car matched the description of a stolen vehicle that had driven across Marblehead High School’s Piper Field early that morning with another car.
Police were alerted to that incident around 5:40 a.m. and responded to the field to find tire marks on the grass and damage to a gate.
The damage was not significant, police said.
The department believes the two incidents are connected and are pursuing them as criminal matters. Officers intend to issue charges, according to the statement.
Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the Marblehead Police Department at 781-631-1212, Detective Sgt. Sean Brady at sbrady@marbleheadma.gov, or School Resource Officer Sean Sweeney Jr. at ssweeneyjr@marbleheadma.gov.
Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com.