Police Log: Dispute over Beaver Dams, Disappearing Election Signs, 3 Arrests and More

The news described in Westwood Minute's weekly 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.

Monday, April 24th

Election Sign Disappears

3:00 p.m. A resident of Baker Street reported that an election campaign sign for Tom Themistocles for School Committee was removed from the resident's yard.

Scammers Phish for Information

6:44 p.m. A resident of Burgess Avenue reported a suspicious phone call earlier in the day from someone identifying himself as “Agent Alex Brown of Amazon’s investigations.” The caller inquired if the resident had had purchased three items through Amazon, including a $1,400 diamond ring, for a total of $94,000. 

The caller then transferred the resident to a “Peter Williams of the Treasury Department.” This second person told the resident that nine different bank accounts had been opened in the resident’s name. The person asked the resident for her banking information. The resident was suspicious and did not provide any personal or financial information to the callers. 

The resident contacted her bank to report the suspicious activity and requested a watch on her account. She contacted a credit reporting bureau to monitor her credit. She will continue to monitor her bank and credit accounts.

Sunday, April 23rd

More Missing Election Signs

4:02 p.m. Police responded to a residence on Clapboardtree Street to take a report of theft of two Tom Themistocles for School Committee election signs. The resident informed police that two signs had been removed from the resident’s yard between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. that same day. The resident will check external security cameras to see if any additional information can be learned.

Saturday, April 22nd

Fraudster Attempts Withdrawal of Tens of Thousands of Dollars with Counterfeit Check

12:08 p.m. A resident of Hillcrest Place reported a fraudulent attempt to withdraw money from the resident’s bank account. Someone had attempted to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars at a Bank of America branch office by using a counterfeit credit union check. The resident was alerted to the attempt through a letter from the bank. This case has been referred to the detective division for follow-up.

Dam Problem

12:57 p.m. Police responded to a home in the area of Mill and High streets to take a resident's report that beaver dams in a pond on the resident’s property had been tampered with. The tampering allegedly caused the water level of the pond to drop. 

During the conversation, an abutting neighbor approached and explained to police that, due to the dams, the abutter’s property was beginning to flood. The abutting neighbor claimed to have permission from a third party, a part owner of the pond, to mitigate the alleged flooding by tinkering with the dam. 

Police contacted an employee of Westwood’s Conservation Commission. The employee was aware of the situation and indicated plans to visit the scene and mediate.

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Friday, April 21st

Rent-free Weekend in Jail

5:03 p.m. An officer was conducting a routine building check at the Budget Inn on Providence Highway when an employee approached and asked for assistance in removing a customer who had failed to pay for the past four nights. 

Two additional officers responded to the request. The officers approached the individual, who was in his room.

Police learned that the man, a 48 year-old man from Jamaica Plain, had a default warrant for his arrest from Dedham District Court. When Westwood Police informed the inn's customer that he would be arrested, the man informed them that he had a medical condition.

He was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess – Needham, and subsequently discharged and booked at the Westwood Police Station. Bail was set at $300. Being unable to make bail, the man spent the weekend in the Norfolk County House of Corrections to await his Monday court date in Dedham District Court.

Thursday, April 20th

Early Morning Call to Budget Inn

3:53 a.m. Police were contacted by a man from Taunton who claimed that his sister was being held against her will at the Budget Inn on Providence Highway. 

Officers arrived at Budget Inn and spoke to the man’s sister, who informed police that her brother was incorrect. Officers also spoke to the woman’s boyfriend at Budget Inn, who told officers that the woman was free to leave. 

The woman indicated that she would rather stay at the inn, but would assent to her brother’s wish. Her brother had arrived at the scene, and she accompanied him to Taunton.

Identity Thief Takes out a Small Business Loan

10:35 a.m. A resident of Winter Street reported being the victim of identity theft. The resident received two letters from the Small Business Administration regarding a past due $98 payment on a small business loan. The resident does not have such a loan.

Wednesday, April 19th

Mediating a Landlord-Tenant Conflict

1:52 p.m. While an officer was stationed on Washington Street for traffic enforcement, an individual approached. The individual requested the officer's help in a dispute with the individual's landlord regarding a living situation on Weatherbee Drive. The landlord had alleged a violation of the lease and was taking steps to evict the individual.

The officer engaged in some mediation. However, the mediation was minimal, as the officer explained that the issue is a civil matter, not a criminal matter to be addressed by police.

Tuesday, April 18th

Poor Parking Results in a Crash

8:10 a.m. Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Providence Highway in the parking lot of the Seasons convenience store. A woman from Easton was attempting to park her 2013 Nissan in a parking space. However, she her vehicle advanced too far and struck the concrete base of a light pole that was in front of the car. Her vehicle required towing. No injuries were reported.

Still Driving on a Suspended License

5:30 p.m. An officer conducting stationary traffic enforcement on the 1200 block of High Street queried the license plate of a passing sedan. The officer discovered it was registered to a 26 year-old man from New Bedford with a suspended license. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a domestic violence charge.

The officer stopped the vehicle. The driver admitted that his license had been suspended. He claimed to be driving to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in West Roxbury in order to remove the suspension. However, there is no Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) in West Roxbury. Additionally, all RMV offices in the area close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays. The log indicates the driver was stopped by police at 5:30 p.m.

Based on the warrant, the officer placed the driver under arrest. The officer issued him a criminal motor vehicle citation for driving on a suspended license.

Monday, April 17th

Arrest for Unlicensed Operation of Motor Vehicle

5:30 p.m. A police officer was traveling on High Street and entered a query on a license place of the vehicle ahead of the police. The query revealed the vehicle’s owner to have a warrant from his arrest. The owner, a 31-year old man from Framingham, had failed to appear on a charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

The officer made the traffic stop and discovered that the driver was the owner. The officer arrested him. The driver was later released on bail, set at personal recognizance.

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

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