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8-31-2023 12:06am
Police Log: Rescue of Driver from Car Dangling in Midair, Police Make 4 Arrests, and More
Darlene Cancell
Editor
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.
Sunday, August 27th
Breaking and Entering on Smith Drive
9:41 a.m. A resident of Smith Drive returned home on August 26th, after several days out of state, and found parts of the Westwood home disturbed. Several pieces of jewelry were missing. It is believed that the thief gained access through a window. The total loss is estimated at $6,100. This case is under investigation.
Saturday, August 26th
Stealing Tires from Car Dealership
7:16 p.m. Police received a report that a man was stealing used tires from a bin and putting them in his van at Ira Acura Westwood on Providence Highway. Police responded to the scene and spoke to the man, who was from Manchester, New Hampshire.
The man had 11 tires in his van. The man told police that a friend who works at the nearby Porsche Westwood informed him that the tires were free, as they were going to be recycled.
The responding officer spoke to a manager of Ira Acura Westwood who told police that the company receives a cash rebate for recycling tires. The manager stated that no permission had been given for anyone to take the tires.
Police advised the New Hampshire man that he was stealing. He returned the tires to the bin. He will receive a summons for larceny under $1,200. The tires were valued at $440.
Friday, August 25th
Rescue from Car Dangling in Midair
2:20 p.m. A resident of Highland Glen Apartments was pulling into a parking space at the apartments when her foot slipped from the brake onto the gas pedal. Her Ford sedan overshot the parking space, so that it dangled partially over a retaining wall, in midair. Westwood Fire responded and extracted the woman from the vehicle. She did not complain of injuries but was taken to the hospital to be checked out. The vehicle was towed back to level pavement.
Arrest of Shoplifter Who is Also Wanted for Dealing Drugs
4:53 p.m. Several officers responded to Wegmans grocery store on the report of a shoplifting in progress. A man and woman were observed concealing over-the-counter medication under their shirts. As store security watched on surveillance, the pair pushed a cart of groceries, valued at about $115, out of the store without paying.
Police intercepted the suspects. The man, a 31 year-old from Braintree, removed three packs of decongestants from his clothing. Police discovered he had two default warrants for his arrest. He was wanted for committing identity theft along with intent to distribute a Class A substance (e.g., heroin or fentanyl). Police made the arrest.
Both the man and woman were issued trespass warnings. The woman will be summoned to court for a charge of shoplifting.
Thursday, August 24th
Arrest for Open and Gross Lewdness at Train Station
4:51 p.m. Police were dispatched to the Amtrak Station on University Avenue on the report that an intoxicated man was urinating on the train platform. A witness had observed him sitting on the platform, appearing depressed, and smoking and drinking alcohol. As the witness watched, the man unzipped his pants and urinated on the platform. He was facing a waiting area, in full view of passengers.
Police found an open bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey and evidence of urination on the platform near the man. The 21 year-old from Canton denied any wrongdoing. Police also noticed the young man showed signs of intoxication. He was arrested for open and gross lewdness.
Upon arriving at the police station, the man became “assaultive.” Police charged him with assault and battery on a police officer and consuming alcohol in public. Bail was set a personal recognizance. His mother picked him up from the police station.
Arrest for OUI Liquor
8:44 p.m. Police responded to a rear-end collision at the East Street rotary. In speaking with the driver of the trailing vehicle, police observed symptoms of possible alcohol intoxication and noted that the driver’s description of the accident did not fit the mechanics of the observed crash.
Field sobriety tests showed that the driver, a 55 year-old woman from Dedham, was under the influence of liquor at the time of the crash. Police made the arrest. She received a criminal citation for operating under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle negligently, and following too closely. The woman was also issued a second citation for possessing an open container of alcohol in her vehicle.
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Wednesday, August 23rd
Scammer Requests Payment in Target Gift Cards
7:55 a.m. A resident of Berkley, Massachusetts complained of being victim to a scam involving a purchase made in Westwood. The man said he received a phone call from someone who left a voicemail stating that Xfinity was offering to reduce his monthly cable bill.
The Berkley resident called back, and spoke to someone who offered to reduce his cable bill in exchange for Target gift cards. The Berkley purchased two Target gift cards at Walgreens on High Street to make the transaction. He gave the card numbers to the supposed Xfinity representative.
Afterwards, he noticed that the $500 was not credited to his Xfinity account. Upon contacting Xfinity, he learned he had been scammed.
Police advised the man to close his Xfinity account, open a new account with a new email and passwords, and to contact his credit companies and banks.
Says Lieutenant Sheehy, “Westwood Police advise all readers that if anyone asks you to pay for a service with a gift card, it's a scam.”
Tuesday, August 22nd
Stealing after Sleepover
6:11 a.m. Police responded to Budget Inn on Providence Highway to take a report of a larceny. A man from Holbrooke told police that after spending the night with a young lady, also from Holbrooke, he woke up alone and found his cell phone and wallet missing. Additionally, his bank account was being accessed and there had been $1,075 in unauthorized withdrawals. He estimated a loss of $100 from his wallet and valued the missing cell phone at $130 for a total of about $1,300 lost.
Police requested that the man provide financial statements showing the unauthorized access to his bank account. That information has not yet been provided. Police checked on the complainant the following day at the hotel, but received no answer.
Identity Theft and Out-of-State Unemployment Insurance Fraud
11:31 a.m. A resident of Beechnut Road reported being a victim of identity theft. The resident received mail from Minnesota’s unemployment insurance office regarding a claim made in his name. The resident had never lived or worked in Minnesota.
Police advised the resident to monitor credit and bank accounts, and to contact authorities in Minnesota to alert them to the fraud.
Shoplifter Flees Before Being Identified
3:59 p.m. Police were dispatched to Wegmans in University Station on the report of a shoplifting in progress. While en route, the suspect reportedly ran into the parking lot, leaving behind a cart of groceries worth $483. Using store video, police are working on identifying the suspect.
Another Gift Card Scam
6:49 p.m. A resident of Putting Drive complained of being tricked into paying $500 for a service she never received. The resident called a phone number that she believed belonged to Best Buy’s Geek Squad to request technical assistance. She spoke to a “Frank Miller” who instructed her to pay $500 in CVS gift cards. The resident provided the gift card information and numbers to the alleged Geek Squad representative before she realized she was being scammed. Police advised her to put a watch on her credit and bank accounts.
Dog in Quarantine after Bite
7:54 p.m. A resident of Pond Street reported that his dog was bitten by another dog 10 to 15 minutes earlier outside a home in the area of Pond Street and Colburn Street. The resident reported that he was taking a walk with his dog when a family opened the door of their home to bring groceries inside. The family's dog ran out and bit his dog. Police placed the dog accused of biting under a 10-day quarantine.
Pickup Leaves Road, Strikes Trees on High Street
11:07 p.m. At the intersection of High and Summer streets, a 2023 Dodge Dakota pickup truck skid off the road into the woods, striking several trees at the 200 block of High Street. The operator told police he believed he hit something in the road which caused him to lose control.
A witness traveling behind the pickup did not think the truck struck anything in the road but only saw the truck swerving into the trees.
Police noted that the road appeared clear. Police also discovered that the driver did not have a license. He was issued a citation for a marked lanes violation and for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Monday, August 21st
Arrest for Outstanding Warrants, Cocaine Possession, and Stolen Vehicle
4:16 p.m. An officer on patrol queried the license plate of a Jeep that was parked outside Dunkin’ on Route 1, and discovered that it had been reported by Avis car rental company as stolen from Logan Airport on August 19th. Additional officers responded and located the Jeep's driver and a passenger inside Dunkin’.
The passenger, a 31 year-old woman from Dorchester, told police that the Jeep belonged to a friend. Police observed a number of personal items inside the vehicle that seemed to indicate that the Jeep was being used as living space.
Police conversed with the driver, a 20 year old from Chestnut Hill, and noted that he seemed mildly disorientated. Upon obtaining his identity, police also discovered that he had four active warrants for his arrest.
During the interaction, the driver experienced a medical episode. A Westwood Fire ambulance transported him, along with an accompanying officer, to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham. Upon the driver’s release from the hospital, he was transported to the police station and held without bail. In the afternoon, he was transferred to Norfolk County Correctional Center to await arraignment.
Along with the warrants, his charges are possessing a Class B substance (cocaine) and receiving a stolen motor vehicle. The woman who was his passenger will receive a summons for receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and Westwood Police for contributing information for this article.
