Police Log: Investigating Cases of Easton Police-Involved Shooting and Barricaded Subject in Norwood

The news described in Westwood Minute's Police Log article series 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.

Sunday, February 5

Assisting in Case of Easton Police Involved Shooting of Easton Resident

12:07 p.m. A Westwood detective sergeant responded to a call from Easton Police for MetroLEC investigative assistance in a police officer-involved shooting of an Easton resident who died.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, which is investigating, released a statement with details. Around 11:30 a.m., an Ashland resident requested that Easton Police perform a well-being check on his mother, 56 year-old Marianne Griffiths. She told him that she had injected herself with a dangerous amount of insulin in an attempt to self-harm.

Easton Police travelled to the home of Ms. Griffiths. They briefly spoke with her before she ran downstairs and threatened to shoot the police and herself. Police evacuated other occupants from the home. 

Ms. Griffiths approached the front door with what appeared to be a rifle. An Easton Police officer fired one shot. It struck Ms. Griffiths in the chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene. When police re-entered the home, they discovered that Ms. Griffith’s weapon was a pump action BB gun.

Following the shooting, a Westwood detective sergeant provided investigative assistance on the case for about three hours.

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Thursday, February 2

Unwanted Dumping

7:40 a.m. A business on East Street reported a case of vandalism to police. An individual had defecated on the property on at least two occasions.

Providing Police Protection

10:51 a.m. A constable requested a Westwood Police escort in order to serve a court summons on a Westwood resident on High Street.

Injuries in 2-Vehicle, Head-on Accident

3:34 p.m. Police responded to the intersection of High Street and Lakeshore Drive, the scene of a two-vehicle accident with injuries. 

A 2013 Toyota, driven by a man from West Roxbury, was exiting Lakeshore Drive onto High Street. It failed to yield to a 2019 Toyota headed east on High Street. The collision was head-on, and at an angle. 

The West Roxbury man was transported to Brigham and Women's Faulkner hospital. The driver of the Toyota, a man from Medfield, was not injured. Both vehicles required a tow.

Attempt at Extortion

4:45 p.m. A resident of Margery Lane complained of possible extortion after being contacted by an individual through Snapchat. The individual was demanding $300 in exchange for not publicizing embarrassing photos. The complainant was not familiar with the individual who contacted the resident. No money has been sent.

Wednesday, February 1

Vandalized Mailbox

8:59 a.m. Police received a report of mailbox damage at a home on Edgewood. The resident believed that someone had damaged the mailbox with a blunt object sometime between 8:00 p.m. the previous Saturday and 8:00 a.m. the previous Sunday.  The mailbox is valued at about $100.

Tuesday, January 31

Assisting Norwood Police with Barricaded Subject

12:38 p.m. A Westwood Police detective sergeant and a communications center manager responded to a call for MetroLEC assistance from Norwood Police regarding a man who had barricaded himself in the Hampton Inn on Route 1. MetroLEC SWAT and state police also responded.

The Westwood Police detective sergeant assisted in a background investigation of the subject. The Westwood Police communications center manager helped to coordinate communications at the scene.

The situation was resolved when the man surrendered. He was transported to a hospital. Police recovered a firearm at the location.

Missing Package and an Open Door

6:11 p.m. A resident of Tamarack Road reported arriving home from work around 2 p.m. and noticing the front door open and a package missing from the front porch. She requested police assistance in clearing the house for her. Police checked the house and did not find anything amiss.

Mysterious Backyard Visitors

6:34 p.m. A resident of High Street contacted police after seeing lights and people in her backyard. Police and two cruisers responded. They did not find any such people.

Placing Distraught Man in Protective Custody

10:33 p.m. Police were dispatched to the parking lot of Not Your Average Joe's restaurant on University Avenue on the report that a middle-aged man was disrobing, screaming, and trying to break into the closed restaurant. 

Police found the man, a 37 year-old from Taunton, at the adjacent urgent care facility. He appeared to show signs of narcotic intoxication. Police placed him in protective custody. Westwood Fire paramedics transported the man to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham.

Monday, January 30

Unemployment Benefits Fraud

3:14 p.m. A resident of Carroll Court reported a case of unemployment benefits fraud after receiving a US. Bank Reliacard in the mail which was issued to the resident for unemployment benefits. The resident had never applied for such benefits. The fraud has been reported to the state’s Department of Unemployment Assistance and the resident filed a police report.

Arrest at Wegmans

9:53 p.m. Police responded to a call from Wegmans regarding a shoplifting in progress. The store’s asset protection staff was following a man and woman as they left the store with a reusable shopping bag filled with $213 worth of hygienic and household items that were not paid for. 

Police arrived and requested the two suspects stop. The man complied, but the woman continued walking away. She was later located. Both suspects accompanied police to the store’s office. The suspects were given trespass notices.

A third suspect was reported to have placed soap in an outer pocket of his clothing and leaving the store without paying. This man was also located. However, police determined that he had not taken anything, but rather a female in a vehicle was found to have $78.98 worth of soap on her that was not paid for. She was given a trespass notice. Police also learned that she also had a default warrant for her arrest. Westwood Police placed the 32 year-old woman from Boston under arrest and she was transported to the police station.

Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.

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