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7-19-2024 12:15am
Police Log: Investigating Evidence of Gunshots Fired, Drunk Driver Arrested, and Other Stories
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The news described in Westwood Minute's weekly Police Log article series is primarily based on selected incidents from the Westwood Police Department's daily log, and information provided by Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and police staff through written records and conversations. Occasionally, Westwood Minute may weave a few facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Sunday, July 14th
Erratic Driving Results in Drunk Driving Arrest on High Street
1:38 a.m. An officer was travelling west on High Street near Dover Road and observed a white SUV pulled to the side of the road around the 1600 block of High Street. As the officer approached, the SUV pulled into eastbound traffic, without signaling.
The officer observed the vehicle failing to maintain a straight line of travel, failing to signal at a right turn, and crossing into the opposite lane. When the officer turned on the cruiser’s blue lights, the SUV stopped in the center of its travel lane. Using the cruiser’s speakers, the office requested that the driver pull the SUV to the right of the road, which the driver did, with some difficulty, according to the police report.
In conversation, the officer learned that the driver, a 42 year-old woman from Quincy, believed that she was in Newton. Following a field sobriety test, the officer arrested the woman for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor. She was also cited with a marked lanes violation and failure to signal a turn.
Bail was set a personal recognizance. She was released at 4:35 a.m. and picked up by her spouse.
Evidence of Possible Gunshot on Canton Street
6:00 p.m. An officer responded to a home on Canton Street to examine evidence of a possible gunshot. The resident reported finding a hole in the garage door the week earlier. Thinking nothing of it, the resident patched it. On July 14th, the resident found bullet fragments in the garage. The bullet fragments are believed to be related to the hole found earlier in the resident's garage door. Police are investigating.
Saturday, July 13th
2-Vehicle Collision on High Street
8:52 a.m. A juvenile resident of Medfield was driving a 2016 Honda on High Street, headed east toward North Street when her vehicle was struck by a 2012 Ford driven by a man from Walpole. According to police, the Ford was at the intersection of North and High streets and failed to yield while turning westbound onto High Street. The Honda sustained major damage to its front end, and the Ford was damaged at its rear. Both drivers were examined by Westwood Fire paramedics. They declined further treatment. No citation was issued.
Friday, July 12th
Found – Electric Bicycle
7:34 a.m. An electric bicycle was found at the side of a roadway near Lowell Woods and Sandy Valley Road. Police notified Westwood’s Department of Public Works, for the bike to be picked up and stored at DPW or the police station.
Fraudster Impersonates Co-Worker Via Email
2:58 p.m. A resident of Pond Street reported fraud upon being contacted by email by a person whom the resident believed to be a co-worker. The alleged co-worker offered free tools to the resident, which the alleged co-worker claimed to be stored out of state.
The resident paid a shipping company $364 to have the tools sent. The alleged co-worker then told the resident that the new plan was to sell the tools, instead of giving them to the resident.
When the resident attempted to cancel the shipping, the alleged shipping company ceased responding. The resident also discovered that the alleged co-worker was using an email address that was not the exactly consistent with the co-workers actual company email addresses.
The resident attempted to stop payment on the check, but it had already been deposited.
Thursday, July 11th
Report of Gun Shot Followed by Discovery of Empty Cartridge on Canton Street
9:00 a.m. A resident of Canton Street reported the sound of shots fired around 2:00 a.m. that morning. Police recovered a single, empty cartridge case from the side of the 300 block of Canton Street. This is an open investigation. Police decline to comment whether the reports of gunshots from this week and the week of July 4th are related.
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Doorbell Prankster on Washington Street
1:49 p.m. A resident of Washington Street reported that an unwanted party was ringing the resident’s doorbell. When police responded, the unwanted party was not present. An officer contacted the party, who informed the officer that he was currently at work, in Brockton. The individual was able to send the officer a photo of him at work.
Disorderly, Disgruntled Shopper
10:03 p.m. Police received a report of a disorderly customer at the Target store on University. At the store’s closing, a female customer reportedly attempted to check-out at a register, and became irate at the register accepting only credit cards or debit cards. The customer reportedly began yelling at staff and customers. When employees asked the customer to leave, she reportedly continued berating people. She did finally leave the store, leaving a bag of merchandise. Police determined a possible suspect based on her license plate number. Police attempted to contact the woman, who could not be reached. Police informed store employees to immediately contact police if future such incidents occur.
Wednesday, July 10th
Vehicle Abandoned on Resident’s Driveway
9:18 a.m. A Mill Street resident reported an abandoned vehicle in the resident’s driveway. Police determined the Nissan Rogue belonged to a woman from Malden. The disabled vehicle was towed.
Vehicle Damaged in Resident’s Driveway by Unknown Cause
11:07 a.m. A 2014 Audi parked in the driveway of a Pond Street residence was discovered to have damage to the driver’s side, following the operator’s return from a trip. The lower quarter of a door was dented. It appeared to have been struck by a large, heavy object. It also had a small, L-shaped cut in the door. The cause of the damage is unknown.
Identity Theft Results in Slew of Fraudulent Credit Card Applications
11:21 a.m. A resident of Hartford Street reported identity theft upon being contacted by the American Express company about an application for a credit card. The resident had not applied for such credit card. The resident also received correspondence that applications had been submitted in his name for credit cards with Bank of America, USA Platinum, Citibank, and Walmart. All applications had been denied, but for the Walmart credit card. The resident has put a freeze on his credit and notified his local bank. No monetary loss is reported.
Head-On Collision with Tree on Westfield Street
1:09 p.m. A woman from North Reading was driving a 2019 BMV on Westfield Street when her vehicle veered off the road onto the opposite shoulder and onto a property, striking a tree head-on. Responding police found the driver walking around the scene. She was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham, with abrasions and scrapes. The vehicle’s front fender and grille were damaged, with possible damage to the roof and engine carriage.
Suspicious Activity with a Scooter
8:22 p.m. A caller reported seeing a youth, without a helmet, pushing a scooter in the area of Clapboardtree Street near Milk Street. Police responded but did not find any such person.
Tuesday, July 9th
Suspected Shoplifter Intercepted
7:51 a.m. Police met with asset protection staff at the Target store on University Avenue, after staff had intercepted a 60-year old woman from Norwood who attempted to leave the store without paying for items. The merchandise was returned. The store staff issued the individual a trespass notice for all Target locations, and she was escorted off the property.
Monday, July 8th
Fraudulent Credit Application after Imposter Accesses Resident’s RMV Account
5:44 p.m. A resident of Westview Terrace reported receiving notice that morning that someone had logged into the resident’s Registry of Motor Vehicles Account. Later that morning, the resident received a notice from Capital One that someone had attempted to open an account there. The resident contacted Capital One to ensure that the application would be rejected. The resident learned that someone had attempted to apply for credit using the resident’s name, social security number, date of birth, and address. At this time, no money has been lost.
Doorbell Prankster on Fisher Street
9:47 p.m. Police received a report of someone ringing doorbells on Fisher Street. Police responded but found no one on foot.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
