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7-24-2024 12:53am
Police Log: Road Rage, Charges of DUI and Possession of Unlicensed Gun and More
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.
Monday, July 22nd
Drunken Mischief
9:22 a.m. A resident of Canton Street reported finding a half-empty bottle of vodka in the resident’s driveway and discovering that a political sign had been stolen.
Sunday, July 21st
Elder Abuse Reported
7:00 p.m. A resident of Westwood reported possible elder abuse, believed to have occurred in a Westwood home. The Office of Elder Affairs was contacted to make a report.
Saturday, July 20th
Parents Intervene to Prevent Daughter from Driving While Intoxicated
3:03 p.m. Two officers were dispatched to the Hogan Tire parking lot on Washington Street on the report of a disturbance. The officers found three adults – a 29 year-old woman, her mother, and her stepfather. Police learned that the parents were trying to prevent their daughter from driving while intoxicated.
Police placed the younger woman in protective custody and transported her to Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton to be evaluated. Police provided the mother and stepfather information regarding possible court action to address their daughter’s apparent alcohol abuse.
Friday, July 19th
Road Rage Results in Damage to Vehicle
5:13 p.m. A man and woman from Parrish, Florida, reported an incident of road rage. Around 4:30 p.m., the couple were driving to the Courtyard Marriott on University Avenue and missed a turn. The couple observed a vehicle, described as appearing similar to a navy blue Toyota Corolla, turn off the I-95 South off-ramp. The Florida man reported that he waved the car through, then made a U-turn behind the exiting car. The Corolla slowed and stopped, and a passenger got out and walked toward the Florida couple’s car.
The couple drove around the pedestrian and the Corolla. As they continued driving down University Avenue, the Corolla followed. The Florida couple drove onto Station Drive and around the Gables University Station apartments parking lot, and the Corolla continued to follow. Then, the passenger of the Corolla – described as a tall, 6-foot male - exited the vehicle and charged at the Florida couple’s car. He reportedly kicked their door several times.
Police noted damage to the driver’s side of the Florida couple’s car. The couple did not obtain any license plate number for the suspect’s car.
Theft of Scrap Metal and Tires
9:33 p.m. Police responded to Ira Acura Westwood on Providence Highway where two males were reported to be stealing tires and scrap metal. Officers observed a white U-Haul truck, with an Arizona license plate, appearing to flee the area. Police made a traffic stop in the parking lot, and ordered the two occupants to exit.
Both occupants were discovered to be Norwood residents. They claimed to be primarily Spanish speakers.
A Spanish-speaking officer was called to the scene. It was determined that the two suspects had indeed taken scrap metal and tires from the dealership. They claimed a belief that the items were being thrown away.
Police instructed the suspects to return the items. The suspects will receive a summons in the mail for larceny under $1,200.
Thursday, July 18th
One Thing Leads to Another
6:42 p.m. On High Street, an officer noticed an expired registration on a passing black, Volkswagen SUV. Upon performing a query on the vehicle registration, the officer learned that the registration had expired in May, with a nonrenewable status. Additionally, the owner of the vehicle had a suspended license.
The officer observed the vehicle perform what appeared to be attempts to elude the officer, by exiting one parking lot in the area of the 700 block of High Street, and subsequently entering the driveway of another parking lot nearby. The SUV moved to the rear of a building, appearing to flee.
However, the path of the SUV was blocked by vehicles. The officer approached the driver, who was identified as the vehicle’s registered owner, a 27 year-old female from Foxborough.
Police issued the driver a citation for operating a motor vehicle after suspension and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
The officer subsequently learned that the Foxborough woman had two outstanding warrants for her arrest from Wrentham District Court. She had been charged with failure to stop for police and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
Police arrested the woman, who was held without bail. The next morning, she was transported to Dedham District Court.
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Wednesday, July 17th
Police Arrest Drunk Driver Who Is Found with Firearm, Ammunition
2:55 a.m. An officer was traveling northbound on Washington Street when the officer observed a vehicle from the southbound lane cross the double-yellow line, into the officer's lane.
To avoid a collision, the officer drove the cruiser off the road and into a parking lot. The officer returned to the road with a U-turn to make the traffic stop.
Following field sobriety tests, the officer arrested the driver for driving while intoxicated. Inside the vehicle, the officer found a 9 mm pistol, along with 13 rounds of 9 mm hollow-point ammunition inside a magazine.
The driver, a 40 year-old from Roslindale, was arrested and transported to the police station, and held without bail. Police charged the man with: (1) carrying a semi-automatic firearm with capacity above 10 rounds; (2) possessing a firearm without a Firearms Identification Card (FID); (3) possessing ammunition without an FID; (4) improper storage of a firearm; (5) driving under the influence; (6) operating to endanger; (7) and a marked lanes violation.
For more on this story, read Westwood Minute's article, "Police Arrest Drunk Driver, Found in Possession of Unlicensed Semi-automatic Firearm and Ammunition."
Monastery Reports Fraudulent Checks
2:00 p.m. Police were dispatched to the Monastery of Saint Clare on Gay Street to speak to two complainants who reported that they had been receiving notices of fraudulent activity from Citizens Bank since early July. It appears that checks were being written using the monastery’s account number. About $5,000 had been fraudulently withdrawn.
Additionally, on July 17th, the monastery received a suspicious phone call from an individual who allegedly claimed to be seeking reimbursement of a $10,000 grant to the monastery.
The sisters of the monastery are working to change their bank account numbers to prevent further instances of fraud.
Better To Bee Safe Than Sorry
11:36 p.m. A caller reported observing what appeared to be a man exiting a car while dressed in a hazmat suit and carrying a rifle. The caller told police that the man in the hazmat suit had pulled a long, black gun out of the backseat of his car and walked toward a house on Metcalf Road.
Police sent several units to the scene. Police located the man and learned that he was wearing a beekeeping suit. What appeared to be a rifle was actually a long stick. The man had arrived at the home to take care of a bee problem.
Tuesday, July 16th
A Scam That Won’t Succeed
9:03 a.m. Westwood Police Department received emails with the instruction to change the direct deposit for a certain Town of Westwood employee. Police were instructed to direct the employee’s payment to an online bank used by an institute located in Ghana. Police contacted the employee and confirmed that the employee had not authorized any change of direct deposit. No money has been lost.
Fraudulent Return of Target Store Merchandise
7:04 p.m. Police responded to Target where store video showed that a woman had walked into the store with multiple items, grabbed additional store items, and attempted to return store items which she had not paid for. The unpaid merchandise was valued at about $325.
Store staff reported that the woman was known for conducting similar activity in the past.
Police arrested the 44 year-old from Milton. She was charged with shoplifting, third offense, and was trespassed from the store.
Monday, July 15th
Chance at a Second Bite
11:50 a.m. Westwood’s animal control officer reported that a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was bitten by a dog while en route to a mailbox at a Connors Street residence. The mail carrier exited his vehicle to walk up a driveway when a small dog bit him on the right leg, above the ankle.
The dog’s owner exited the home, and asked that the mail delivery be left at the end of the driveway. The resident reportedly returned into the home, leaving the dog outside.
The dog ran at the mail carrier a second time. The mail carrier, a resident of Dedham, was able to reach the safety of his vehicle.
The dog is to be quarantined for 10 days. Additionally, police informed the owner that her dog, which was unlicensed, must be licensed within 10 days.
Unauthorized Dumping
4:52 p.m. The senior manager at Frugal Fannie’s on Wilson Way reported that store video had captured a white truck dumping a mattress in the business’s parking lot. Police are investigating.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
