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10-28-2022 12:31am
Police Log: Assault on MBTA Bus, SUV Crash on High Street, Missing Man found deceased (Updated)
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The news described in Westwood Minute's Police Log article is primarily based on selected information from the Westwood Police Department's daily log and information provided by Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and police staff. Occasionally, a few facts from other sources may be woven into these stories.
Monday, October 24th
SUV Crashes Into Utility Pole on High Street
9:41 a.m. Police responded to the scene of a one-vehicle crash where a black, 2012 Honda Pilot struck a telephone pole on High Street, in the area between Lakeshore Drive and Pond Street. The SUV was traveling west on High Street when it left the road, going onto the shoulder, striking the curb and pole. It rotated from the collision, and ended up facing the opposite direction. The vehicle required a tow to be removed.
The collision split the utility pole open and pushed the pole in a westward direction by 8 to 10 inches. The damage to the pole meant it was in danger of falling over. Eversource responded to check on the pole and perform repairs and/or reinforcements. That section of High Street was closed for much of the day.
The driver, a 17 year-old male from Westwood, was treated at the scene by Westwood Fire paramedics. He declined transportation to a hospital. The cause for the vehicle leaving the road was unknown at time of publication.
Stolen Bicycle Recovered
10:54 a.m. An officer responded to a residence on Bayley Street to take a report of a bicycle theft. The resident informed police that one day prior, she received a call from a friend who told her that her child’s bicycle was located in front of Westwood High School. The bike is normally stored in a shed on the resident’s property. The friend returned the Trek bike, worth approximately $500, to its owner. The complainant noticed that there was damage to the bike upon its return.
Sunday, October 23rd
After Hit and Run, Bicyclist Tracks Down Perpetrator
4:59 p.m. A man from Norwood reported to police that, two hours prior to his report, he was biking south on Winter Street in Westwood when a vehicle struck him. The bicyclist and vehicle were traveling in the same direction when the vehicle made a right turn onto Colby Way and hit the complainant. The impact caused him to fall to the ground.
The bicyclist reported that the vehicle continued on its way without stopping. The bicyclist reported to police that he followed the vehicle to a residence on Colby Street, where the bicyclist watched it park.
An officer visited the residence where the Camry had parked, and took photos of a dent and minor scratches on the rear panel of the passenger side of the car. Upon speaking to the family at the residence, the officer was able to identify the driver, a 27 year-old male resident of Westwood. He admitted to driving on Winter Street at the time of the accident. Police cited the driver with a criminal citation for leaving the scene of an accident after a personal injury and for improper turning.
The bicyclist declined medical attention offered by police.
Westwood Minute previously reported that on October 6th, there were another two accidents involving bicyclists who required hospital visits after coming into contact with vehicles on Gay Street and Pond Street. For reporting on those incidents, see "Police Log: Bad Day for Bicyclists, Multiple Arrests in Shoplifting in Progress, and More."
Medical Event Likely Cause of University Avenue Crash
5:09 p.m. A witness informed police that a 2019 Kia, driven by an elderly man from Randolph, was traveling south in the northbound lane of University Avenue. The witness was driving in the northbound lane and she honked her vehicle horn to get the driver’s attention. The Kia then swerved into the southbound lane and made a wide U-turn into the northbound lane. The Kia crashed into a light pole. The pole was destroyed.
Both Westwood and Norwood Fire paramedics responded, and the driver was extracted, in severe medical distress. He was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham. From there, he was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Boston. It is believed that the cause of the accident was a medical event.
Missing Medway Man Discovered, Declared Deceased
10:02 p.m. As part of the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (METROLEC) Search and Rescue Investigations Units’ efforts, a Westwood Police detective was called to Medway to assist with the case of a missing 72 year-old man with dementia. The elderly man was reported missing from his home by a family member. He had left his home around 4:40 p.m. for an afternoon walk, which was not unusual. However, he had not returned for several hours.
Shortly after the Westwood Police detective arrived, a Holliston Police Department patrol officer found the man, located off the road, along Washington Street in Holliston. The man was declared dead at the scene by paramedics. An investigation is being conducted by Holliston Police, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, and the State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Friday, October 21st
Rear-end Collision Sends Two People to Hospital
2:22 p.m. A rear-end collision occurred around the 400 block of East Street, resulting in two drivers being transported to the hospital. A 2022 Toyota had stopped at the Carroll Avenue crosswalk for a pedestrian. The 2011 Chevy that was traveling behind struck the rear of the Toyota.
The Toyota, driven by a woman from Dedham, received severe damage in the rear. The Chevy, driven by a man from Brockton, was also damaged. Both vehicles were towed and both drivers were transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham.
A witness later called police to share what he had seen. He stated that the Toyota stopped for a pedestrian and the Chevy drove into the Toyota, without applying brakes. The pedestrian was unharmed.
Thursday, October 20th
Account Opened Online, Fraudulently
11:38 a.m. A resident of Mayfair Drive reported identity theft on behalf of her husband. Her husband had received a letter from a bank in Texas informing him that a new account was opened in his name on October 8, 2022. He also received a credit card for the account, neither of which he applied for. He informed the Teas bank of the fraud and the bank closed the account. The couple learned from the bank that the account had been opened online, without the applicant’s physical presence.
The couple filed a report with the Federal Trade Commission which recommended that the couple also file a local police report. The couple was also advised to notify all three credit reporting agencies and to place a watch on their accounts.
Assault by Delivery Truck Driver on Restaurant Employee
5:34 p.m. Police responded to Del Frisco’s Grille on University Avenue to take the report of an assault on a male employee by a male delivery truck driver. The employee received minor injury. When police arrived, a group was gathered around a delivery truck. Police recorded statements and collected video from the restaurant. Criminal charges are pending.
Wednesday, October 19th
Animal Call in Early Morning
12:29 a.m. Police received a call from a resident, informing police that a deer had been struck by a vehicle on Oak Street. The vehicle left the scene. Police arrived to find the deer alive but severely injured. Police used a handgun to put the animal out of its misery. The deer was moved out of the street and onto the front yard of the reporting party to await pick-up by the Department of Public Works.
Westwood Police Gives a Hand to Medfield Police
12:06 p.m. A Westwood Police detective responded to a request by Medfield Police for assistance in taking fingerprints in the case of a motor vehicle break-in.
Fraudster Attempts to Open Joint Account with Victim
4:20 p.m. A resident reported suspicious activity on her bank account on October 17, 2022. She had received an email notice informing her that a new Bank of America account had been opened in her name, but she had not taken any such action.
She contacted the bank about the fraud, and learned that the new account was a joint account that listed herself and someone named “Michael Taveras” as owners of the account. The resident explained that she did not know anyone by that name and had not authorized the account.
Later on October 17th, the resident noticed a transfer of $2,450 out of her legitimate checking account into the fraudulent joint account. She immediately contacted Bank of America, which froze the joint account, so that no withdrawals would be made.
Police informed the resident that she should place a watch on her account with credit reporting agencies and notify all of her banks and credit cards of the fraud.
Monday, October 17th
Assault on MBTA Bus Driver
1:32 p.m. Dedham Police were flagged down by an MBTA bus driver who reported having been assaulted by a passenger. The incident occurred along Washington Street in Westwood. The perpetrator had fled. The driver reported no injuries.
MBTA Police asserted jurisdiction, and Westwood Police stayed nearby until MBTA was able to respond.
Fake Fist Fight
5:15 p.m. Police responded to a report from a bystander on Nahatan Street who observed two juveniles preparing for what appeared to be a fist fight. Police arrived to find two juvenile males surrounded by a group of more juveniles. The two boys explained that they were friends who were not fighting but “just messing around.” Police noticed the absence of any marks or cuts on the boys, and no indication of a physical altercation.
Missing Deliveries
6:15 p.m. A resident of Phillips Brooks Road reported to police that he received notice that an Amazon package containing audio equipment had been delivered, but that he had never received the package. The resident observed that the notice of receipt did not contain a photograph of the package being left on his doorstop, which is something that he usually receives upon a completed delivery. He also reported not receiving a package of clothing.
The resident noted that Amazon would compensate him for the clothing, but that Amazon required a police report before compensation would be made for the audio equipment.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
Updated 11/1/2022. The incident reported in "Assault on MBTA Bus Driver" was stated incorrectly to have taken place along Washington Street in Dedham. A correction has been made to state that the assault occurred along Washington Street in Westwood.
