BOSTON -- A teenager is under arrest near Boston after he recklessly drove a car through high school athletic fields, causing people to run in fear for their lives, police said.

"There were spectators for a baseball game, some high school sports were practicing, there was also a middle school track meet going on at the time," at Carver High School on Tuesday, said Carver police Sgt. Michael Miksch.

"We've got an idiot up here in a car racing around on the field endangering lots of children at the high school," one 911 caller said.

"We need a police officer down here at the middle school. A car was just racing through the parking lot, on the field," another caller said.

Several of the roughly 600 people at the fields told police that they had to jump out of the path of the car and run to avoid getting hit.

"All of a sudden a car just came flying across the field and was doing doughnuts out in right field where there were girls standing because there was a game going on," witness Deborah Hayden said.

When Carver police Officer Dennis Rizzuto tried to stop the car nearby , he said the car sped off, passed cars and drove toward oncoming traffic.

"Our officer attempted to stop him nearby and he fled from the officers. The officers, fearing for the public safety as well as their own and the suspect's safety, disengaged their pursuit. Traffic was heavy, of course. It was commuter time still. They disengaged the pursuit and apprehended him at his house a short time later," Miksch said.

Police arrested George Cowen, 17, later Tuesday.

He faces 11 charges, including assault by means of a deadly weapon, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, malicious destruction of property more than $250 and disturbing a school assembly.

"People were scurrying out of the way, and the charges address that as well. He is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon -- a car," Miksch said.

Cowen's parents were seeking psychological help for the teen. He has not been arraigned.

Police said they found a 16-inch knife in the car.

Cowen parents said they found a note from their son that said it wasn't worth being around and that he was taking the car.