Police Log: Jeep Strikes and Damages Speed Sign and Utility Pole

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, January 8th

Moving an Idling Truck

4:36 p.m. A caller reported a disturbance from a tow truck which was parked along High Rock Lane, idling for over 10 minutes. An officer investigated and spoke to the driver. Upon learning that the driver did not have any business to conduct in the area, the driver was asked to move along.

Sunday, January 7th

Walking in Circles

4:47 p.m. Police received a report of a man walking in circles at the end of Carroll Court. He was described as tall, thin, with facial hair and wearing a navy blue jacket, dark hat, scarf and red Crocs shoes. Officers located the man. They discovered he was visiting a resident of the street and waiting for his car to warm up.

Saturday, January 6th

Identifying a Shoplifting Suspect

3:37 p.m. An officer responded to a report of a past shoplifting on December 11, 2023 at Wegmans supermarket. Store staff informed police that a male entered the store and proceeded to a display of Nicorette gum and Plan B pills. The suspect put items in his cart and left without paying. 

Loss prevention staff believe that the suspect is the same individual who stole Crest Whitestrips and Rogaine from the store on November 15th last year. He is described as having dark skin, and wearing a dark jacket along with a baseball cap that was camouflage and white. Detectives are working on identifying the suspect.

Friday, January 5th

Bumps in the Night

2:20 a.m. A resident of High Street contacted police upon reportedly hearing loud noises in the resident’s home. Police officers responded but found nothing amiss.

Jeep Strikes and Damages Speed Sign, Utility Pole

6:29 p.m. Police discovered a 2014 Jeep angled sideways across the eastbound lane of High Street, at the 1300 block of High Street near the Pond Street intersection. The vehicle had sustained front end damage and was leaking fluids. The driver was found standing outside the vehicle.

The driver, a man from Dedham, told police that he had yawned and taken his eyes off the road for a moment, after which the Jeep reportedly veered off the road. It struck and toppled a solar-powered speed sign and then struck and cracked the base of an Eversource utility pole. 

The man admitted to driving about 40 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. zone. No injuries were reported.

Thursday, January 4th

Elderly Pedestrian Struck by Pickup Truck

2:49 p.m. Police received a report of a pedestrian being struck in the parking lot of Roche Bros. supermarket on Washington Street. Additional details are available in a Westwood Minute article that published on January 9, 2023.

Wednesday, January 3rd

Driver "Zones Out" in Rear-End Collision

4:49 a.m. Police took an accident report regarding a rear-end collision on High Street at the Gay Street intersection. A Norwood man driving a 2017 Chevrolet east on High Street admitted to rear-ending a 2015 Subaru driven by another man from Norwood, which was stopped at the traffic light at the intersection. The trailing driver reportedly told police that he must have “zoned out." No injuries were reported. 

Police cited the driver of the Chevrolet with failure to stop for a red light.

Vehicle Hits Two Deer on Canton Street

5:42 a.m. A Canton resident was driving a 2014 Ford vehicle on the 400 block of Canton Street when two deer reportedly jumped in front of him on the road. He was unable to stop in time, and told police he believed he struck both animals. 

No injuries were reported, and no air bags deployed. The driver was able to drive away from the accident. 

One deer remained on the road, deceased, while the other deer ran away. Police contacted the Department of Public Works to remove the deer from the road.

Report of Being Followed

1:24 p.m. A resident of Carroll Court contacted police when she believed that she was being followed by a black van in the vicinity of East Street and Carroll Avenue. 

An officer responded and located the black van. The officer discovered that it was operated by a private investigator.

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Tuesday, January 2nd

Coyote Den Discovered

1:58 p.m. A resident of Crystal Hill Terrace called to report a new coyote den was found in the resident’s neighborhood. Police referred the call to Westwood’s animal control officer.

Coyote Attack on Dog

3:08 p.m. Westwood’s animal control officer took a report from a resident of Crystal Hill Terrace whose Miniature Schnauzer dog was attacked by a coyote on December 29, 2023 around 7:00 p.m. The dog was treated by a veterinarian for bite wounds on both shoulders, given a rabies booster, and placed on quarantine for 45 days.

The officer informed the resident that January is the onset of the coyote mating season, and explained preventative measures. Pets should be supervised when outside, residents should be alert to the presence of coyotes, outdoor food sources should be removed, and bright lights and loud noises can be used to repel coyotes. Additionally, the officer advised the resident to reduce the area of an invisible fence to keep the dog away from a wooded area.

Too Close for Comfort

3:37 p.m. Police received a call from a Walpole resident who found a vehicle parked firmly up against the front bumper of her 2012 Ford. The Ford was in the parking lot outside Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue. The other vehicle, a 2023 Jeep owned by a woman from Hyde Park, had crossed over the white line marking her parking space by about six inches.

The officer requested that the complainant back up her vehicle, whereupon damage was observed to the complainant’s front bumper in the form of two small scratches. As the officer gathered the report, the driver of the Jeep appeared. She explained that her vehicle may have rolled forward after she parked it. The officer observed no damage to the Jeep.

No citations were issued.

Police Arrest Shoplifter Who Refuses to Leave Store

9:03 p.m. Police responded to Nordstrom Rack on University Avenue where a woman suspected of shoplifting on prior occasions was refusing to leave the store despite the store closing. Store staff told police that in previous instances of suspect shoplifting, the same woman was believed to enter the store, conceal items in a bag, then pay for other items while leaving the store with unpaid items.

On this occasion, the woman refused to leave when employees approached to ask her to check out her items. Instead, she reportedly continued to shop.

The responding officer asked to inspect the woman’s shoulder bag. She opened it slightly, while keeping it on her shoulder. The officer saw a small handbag from the store, concealed in the woman's larger shoulder bag. The officer arrested the woman and transported her to the police station. 

A search of the suspect's shoulder bag revealed about two dozen items from Nordstrom, worth a total of about $569. The items including jewelry, cosmetics, and at least one small bag. Police informed Nordstrom Rack, which indicated its plans to send the woman a formal notice of no trespass. Police charged the 36 year-old woman from Canton with shoplifting by concealment of merchandise.

Fight Over Fantasy Football

11:44 p.m. A caller reported a possible altercation between the occupant(s) of a yellow Jeep and the occupant(s) of a silver sedan in the parking lot of Lifetime Fitness on Harvard Street. The cars sped away. Police learned from the gym staff that two individuals were observed arguing over fantasy football.

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

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