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11-30-2022 12:30am
Police Log: Uber Driver Accuses Passenger of Painful Poke and Other Stories
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, November 28th
Moped Towed for Lack of Registration
12:54 a.m. An officer was conducting stationary traffic enforcement on Washington Street when the officer observed a small motorcycle pass by without a license plate. The officer made a traffic stop and learned that the operator had a suspended driver’s license and that the moped lacked registration.
The rider was cited for operating a moped without a license and operating an unregistered moped. Police offered the rider an opportunity to have someone pick up the moped, which could not be operated without registration and a license, but as that was not possible, it was towed.
Sunday, November 27th
Can’t Stop Arguing
9:09 p.m. Police were dispatched to Target on the report that the occupants of two vehicles were throwing objects at each other in the parking lot. Police located a white, Chevy Malibu that was occupied by a woman from Dedham and a woman from East Walpole. Also, a grey, Toyota Corolla was in the vicinity, with occupants from Boston. Police found plastic bottles and aluminum cans scattered around the vehicles. Police determined that the group were employees of Target who had an earlier disagreement. They had continued their argument in the parking lot.
Saturday, November 26th
Uber Driver Complains of Being Poked by Passenger
3:02 p.m. Police received a complaint from an Uber driver and resident of Burlington who reported injuries following his transportation of a passenger to Westwood. The Uber driver informed police that on October 11, 2022, while driving a man to Westwood, he felt a sharp poke at the back of his neck. Upon questioning the man, the passenger denied poking the Uber driver.
The Uber driver reported that he experienced an uncomfortable sensation for the rest of the ride. Eventually, the discomfort became pain and spread from his neck to his shoulder and down his leg. The Uber driver spoke with his doctor who encouraged him to make a police report.
The passenger was described as a middle aged white man with brown hair in a blue suit who stood approximately 6 feet tall. The drive attempted to obtain the identification of the passenger through Uber, but was unsuccessful.
Upon police questioning regarding why the Uber driver waited so long to make his report, the driver responded that he had been unsure where the incident had occurred. A Westwood Police detective will be reviewing this case to determine what type of follow-up, if any, is needed.
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Friday, November 25th
Pickup Truck Strikes Deer on Gay Street
4:47 a.m. The driver of a 2014 Toyota Tundra pickup truck contacted police shortly after hitting a large deer. The driver had been headed north on Gay Street when a deer crossed the road near Milk Street. The pickup truck struck the deer, which then left the roadway.
The driver was uninjured and drove the vehicle to a parking lot at Gay and High streets to examine the vehicle under the street lamps. It had significant damage to the front end grille, front bumper, and front quarter panel.
An officer surveyed the area of Gay of Milk streets but was unable to locate the deer.
Fraudulent Tax Return Filing
1:26 p.m. Police responded to a private home on Church Street to take the complaint of a resident who had received a letter in the mail from the IRS, informing the resident that a tax return had been filed in the resident’s name. The IRS was trying to determine if the tax filing was legitimate and requested that the resident call.
The resident had not made the filing. The resident called the IRS, and was told someone would call back in 10 minutes to take a report. The resident received a call 10 minutes later, during which a different person asked the resident for personal information. The resident became suspicious, ended the call, and contacted police.
With police present, IRS was contacted again. Westwood Police determined that the letter and phone contact were legitimate contacts by the IRS. Police advised the resident to contact credit reporting bureaus to monitor the resident’s accounts and to get a PIN number from the IRS to file taxes in the future.
Shoplifter Makes Reckless Getaway
4:04 p.m. Representatives of Frugal Fannie’s reported an incident of shoplifting to police. Police met with several store managers who described a female taking a pair of boots out of the store without paying. They reported that upon being confronted, the woman ran into a blue Nissan Altima in the parking lot, and drove in reverse down Glacier Drive at a high speed.
Police reviewed store video and observed a woman trying on boots, and then concealing them in a purse while placing the empty shoebox back on the store’s shelf. The identity of the woman is unknown at this time, but she is believed to be responsible for prior incident(s) of shoplifting at the store.
Teenage Drivers
8:53 p.m. A caller at 200 Station Drive reported that four vehicles, driven by teens, were circling the complainant’s vehicle in the parking lot. Police responded to the scene and located the group of teens who were reportedly "just hanging out." They were advised to leave the vicinity.
Vehicle Break-in Results in Theft
11:02 p.m. A resident of Weymouth reported a vehicle break-in at a condominium complex on University Avenue. The Weymouth resident had parked a 2018 Mercedes Benz SUV at the complex on Wednesday, November 23rd, and on the following day, found it had been broken into. A Burberry purse worth $250 had been taken, along with its contents that included cash, credit cards, and identification. Also missing was a Louis Vuitton belt worth $390.
Monday, November 21st
No More Idling
4:49 a.m. A resident of Gay Street reported a disturbance from an idling truck at the construction site of the Hanlon-Deerfield school. The truck reportedly had been idling for half an hour. Police responded and advised the truck operator to cease the idling.
Fraudulent Bank Account
5:43 p.m. A resident of Tamarack Road reported to police that a few days earlier, the resident had received multiple emails from the resident’s bank regarding a bank account which he had not opened. The resident contacted the bank and a freeze was placed on that account.
After that incident, the resident received a message from the bank stating that a debit card associated with that account had been delivered to a New York address.
The resident has not lost any money but is notifying the credit bureaus to put a watch on his account.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
