Police say the driver of a stolen car tried swimming away from officers after crashing in a lake Wednesday night. Sparta police say 28-year-old Joshua Fleming of Prescott is in the Monroe County jail.

Officers say a sheriff's deputy tried to pull Fleming over around 11:15 Wednesday night when he sped away. They say he drove through the parking lot of the VFW in Sparta, then crashed about 50 yards out into Perch Lake.

Officers say Fleming got out of the sinking car and started swimming away from police. A passenger inside the vehicle was trapped but was eventually able to get out. Fleming reached the middle of the lake before yelling for help. He was rescued and ticketed for operating while intoxicated and fleeing an officer.