11-07-2023 12:17am

Police Log: Hit-and-Run Driver Later Found, Intoxicated, When Vehicle Strikes a House

Darlene Cancell Editor

Image by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell.

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, November 5th

Masked Suspects Make Early Morning Visit to Car Dealership

3:24 a.m. Police were alerted by an alarm company to a blue sedan pulling into the parking lot of Prime Audi, with its headlights off. Three males wearing ski masks were seen exiting the vehicle. Three units responded and checked the area. They were unable to locate the vehicle or the masked men. The police report did not indicate anything was stolen at that time.

Suspicious Lights

5:15 a.m. A resident of High Street reported seeing someone in the backyard, shining bright lights through the window. Police checked the area and observed deer in the resident’s backyard.

Saturday, November 4th

Vandalism at Construction Site

7:48 a.m. Police responded to an office building on Canton Street to take a report of vandalism. A construction project superintendent complained that the work crew arrived that morning to find large holes had been smashed into new drywall, paint had been splattered, and that multiple fire extinguishers had been discharged inside and outside of the building. Security footage showed a male attempting to enter the construction area at 12:30 p.m., and a black sedan was also seen. Repairs and replacements due the the damage are estimated to cost $2,000.

Driving DUI with a Shredded Tire

4:47 p.m. An officer on stationary traffic enforcement near 200 University Avenue heard a loud thumping noise. The officer’s attention was drawn to a black, Honda Accord with a flat front tire, headed southbound on University Avenue.

The officer made a traffic stop. The officer observed that the front tire on the driver’s side was shredded, with damage to the tire rim. It appeared as if it had been driven on for an extended time. The officer also observed signs of intoxication.

Following field sobriety tests, the officer arrested the driver, a 33 year-old man from Walpole, for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor. The driver also received a citation for negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He was released on personal recognizance later that evening.

Friday, November 3rd

Not What It Seems

2:44 a.m. Police responded to Prime Porsche on Providence Highway, on a report from an alarm company, that a man in a green jacket and black hat was on the property. On arrival, police found the man inside a grey, Porsche sedan with the motor running.

The man informed police that he was picking up the car at a friend’s request. He told police that he had no identification, license, or key on him.

Police learned that the vehicle was registered to a Cambridge resident, and contacted the owner. The owner informed police that the suspect, a man from Medford named “Brandon,” had been sent to pick up the vehicle much earlier in the evening. The owner informed police that the car can be unlocked and controlled by smartphone, explaining the lack of the suspect having keys.

At the owner’s request, the suspect was allowed to leave with the vehicle. Police advised him not to pick up vehicles at that hour of day in the future.

Shoplifters Steal $10,000 Worth of Fragrances

6:14 p.m. Ulta Beauty on University Avenue reported that shoplifters had fled in a black Honda SUV. The store manager told police that a few minutes prior, two males and two females filled plastic shopping baskets with approximately $10,000 worth of fragrances, and ran out the door to their vehicle. The manager stated that the entire incident lasted less than two minutes. Photos of the suspects were obtained, and police are investigating.

Thursday, November 2nd

Suspect Flees on Green Scooter

12:25 p.m. The manager of Country Ski & Sport on Providence Highway reported a shoplifting to police that had occurred about an hour earlier. The manager told police that a man entered the store, and after browsing for 40 minutes, placed Smith brand ski goggles in his jacket. He then left without paying. The suspect is described as in his 30s, about 5’10” with medium length hair, and wearing a jacket, black pants, and sneakers. He left on a faded, green, Honda motor scooter that may have a California license plate.

Reminder to Keep Your Car Door Locked

12:46 p.m. Police received a call from an Amtrak ticket agent who reported that a man, around 6’2” in height, with tan skin, and a long, black coat, was checking the handles of vehicles parked in the parking lot. The suspect was then seen leaving the parking garage in a grey, Mazda SUV. Police searched the area but did not find any person or vehicle matching that description.

Hacked Comcast Account

12:49 p.m. A resident of Sterling Road complained that someone had hacked into the resident’s Comcast account. Comcast alerted the resident of an attempt to change the account’s password. No money or personal information is believed to have been compromised.

Shoplifting Prepared Food

3:04 p.m. Police officers were dispatched on the report of a larceny in progress at Wegmans grocery store. The suspects were reported to be two Hispanic females and one Hispanic male who had fled into an adjacent restaurant. Police entered the restaurant but did not locate anyone matching the given description.

The stolen items included just over $104 of prepared food, including sushi and a seafood salad. Additionally, an unknown quantity of health and beauty items were taken. The store has provided photos of the suspects to police who are working on identifying them.

Quite a Temper

5:24 p.m. Two officers responded to Prime Audi on Providence Highway on the report of an alteration in progress. Upon arrival, the manager informed police that a customer had assaulted police.

It appears that the customer, a female from Sudbury, had complained of a problem with a leased vehicle, but Prime Audi’s mechanic and employee found no problems. The customer asked that a note be made on the lease that no defects were found. The employee, a 63 year-old man, agreed. He further stated that a copy of the agreement and addendum would be made.

The customer reportedly became enraged, and attacked the employee to regain possession of the lease papers. The attack was described as the customer pushing, pulling, hitting the employee’s face, and kicking his legs.

Prime Audi issued the customer a notice of trespass, and she will be summoned to court on a complaint of assault and battery and disorderly conduct.

Wednesday, November 1st

Hit-and-Run Driver Later Found, Intoxicated, When Vehicle Strikes a House

6:16 a.m. An officer responded to Canton Street, the scene of a vehicle collision. A 2014 Nissan Altima, driven by a man from Norwood, was traveling south and reportedly crossed the center line. This caused a northbound 2017 Jaguar to go off the road in order to avoid a head-on collision.

When the officer arrived, both vehicles were at the scene. As the officer exited her cruiser, the Altima pulled away. The officer alerted the police station to the departing vehicle, and went on to check on the driver of the Jaguar, a man from Stoughton. He had no injuries.

Several minutes later, police received a call from a resident of Hemlock Drive, who complained that a grey, Nissan Altima was in the resident’s driveway, and had struck the house. The police report describes the vehicle’s contact with the house to be a “minor blow.” Police units arrived at the residence and determined the Altima was the same vehicle that had fled the crash scene.

Police observed that the driver of the Altima appeared to exhibit symptoms of intoxication. Following field sobriety tests, its driver was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor. The man was also cited for negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation. The 23 year-old Norwood resident was arraigned at Dedham District Court later that same day.

Escaped Dog Receives Fatal Injuries in Apparent Animal Attack

7:37 a.m. A caller reported a deceased dog on Rock Meadow Road. It appeared to have been attacked by an animal after escaping from its home on the same street, earlier that morning. Using the dog’s identification tag, police contacted its owner. The owner was not in the area and informed police that a family member would respond to take care of the dog. The dog was transported back to the owner’s property.

Hit-and-Run on Clapboardtree Street

1:50 p.m. A Westwood resident flagged down an officer stationed on Clapboardtree Street, in order to report a hit-and-run that had just occurred 20 minutes prior. The resident told the officer that while driving East around the 400 block of Clapboardtree Street, the resident’s leased, white, 2023 Chevy Malibu was sideswiped by an oncoming vehicle from the opposite direction. The driver’s side mirror was torn off and missing and there were scratches on the driver’s side door from the collision.

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