Wareham Police have arrested a man who allegedly concocted an elaborate story about how he thwarted the attempted kidnapping of a young girl in a Water Wizz parking.

On July 27, charged Matthew McGonnigal, 27, of Weymouth with unlawful wiretapping, false report of a crime and impeding a police investigation.

The charges came after McGonnigal continued to claim he prevented a kidnapping, going so far as to record an interaction he had with police while reporting the alleged crime.

It started two weeks ago with a Facebook post that went viral among people in Wareham and the surrounding area. Taylor Leonard detailed the incident, which was relayed to her by her boyfriend, Matt McGonnigal.

McGonnigal said while walking to their car to place their phones inside, he heard a girl screaming inside another vehicle, according to the post, which has since been deleted.

An altercation ensued that involved swearing, McGonnigal hitting the would-be kidnapper, and a police response that resulted in the offender being arrested, the post read. Leonard said McGonnigal saved the girl's life and is a "hero."

Police said their investigation showed the incident never occurred. According to officers, McGonnigal secretly audio recorded a conversation he had with police during the course of their investigation, a violation of the state’s wiretapping law.

Police said McGonnigal was arrested without incident and his motives for allegedly making up the story remain unclear.