HAVERHILL — While trying to elude police, a Haverhill man jumped into the Merrimack River. He soon returned to dry land, where police were waiting to arrest him.

On Sunday at 9:30 p.m., police officers were dispatched to the Moody School area on a report of fighting in the street. When police arrived, one of the men they believed was involved in the disturbance ran off with officers close behind.

"They were chasing him all over the place," said Deputy Chief Donald Thompson.

The man, identified by police as 25-year-old Joseph Smith of 343 Washington St., raced through backyards in the Margin Street area. Police said that at one point Smith leaped into the river in a daring attempt to avoid arrest. He didn't stay in the water very long, Thompson said.

"Our officers were waiting for him, and they arrested him," Thompson said.

Police charged Smith with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and two counts of witness intimidation. Police said Smith also was wanted on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, defacing property, and two counts of assault and battery on a corrections officer.

At Smith's arraignment yesterday in Haverhill District Court, Judge Patricia Dowling ordered him held without bail at the Middleton House of Correction. He is scheduled to appear at a pretrial hearing on July 31 in Haverhill.

Thompson said it wasn't the first time in his career in law enforcement that a suspect tried to elude police by jumping into the river.

"I remember years ago a guy swam from the Bradford side to the old Hale Hospital," Thompson said. "It's not a smart thing to do, but it's been done."

Now that summer is here, police expect an increase in disturbances, including loud outdoor gatherings and fireworks — especially this week as we lead up to July Fourth on Friday.

"We're getting quite a few loud music and disturbance calls," Thompson said. "It's because people are staying out later at night."