Police Log: Fight Among Middle Schoolers, Missing Cats, and Other Stories

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, October 7th

Missing Tabby Cat - Simba

1:22 p.m. The owner of a 13 year-old yellow tabby cat reported the cat missing from its home on Webster Street. Simba was last seen on October 4th, wearing a flea collar. The owner reported that Simba is frequently outdoors but has always returned home in the past. Police advised the owner to check with neighbors, as cats are known to hide close to home when spooked. The owner was advised to put up flyers and to spread news of the missing cat.

Missing Tabby Cat - Rusty

1:24 p.m. A resident of Circuit Road reported a missing 12 year-old tabby cat named Rusty, which was last seen on October 5th, wearing a collar with an AirTag. The owner last received notice of the cat’s location at 4:00 a.m. on October 6th, but was unable to locate the cat at that time. No further indications of the cat’s location have been received. The animal control officer advised the resident to post flyers and spread the news on social media.

Store Establishes Identity of Shoplifting Suspect

3:25 p.m. Loss prevention staff of the Target store on University Avenue reported having established the identity of a woman who is suspected of a number of shoplifting incidents from the Milton and Westwood Target store locations. Staff observed the woman, a Milton woman, pretend to scan item(s) and place them in a bag, in a “skip and scan” scam. When Target staff confronted the woman, she reportedly said she had no time for the conversation and walked out. Staff recovered some merchandise worth $41, but determined that the woman had taken pajamas worth $22 from the store. The store has informed the woman that she is being trespassed from the store for one year.

Delivery Truck Strikes Mailbox

5:10 p.m. An Amazon delivery truck struck a mailbox on Deerfield Avenue. An administrative employee of Westwood Police took a photo of the truck’s license plate number. Police have contacted Amazon’s local fulfillment center in Norwood to discuss the incident.

Sunday, October 6th

Political Campaign Sign Reported Missing

1:51 p.m. A Westwood resident reported that a blue and white political campaign sign had been taken from the front of the resident’s home between the evening of October 5th and the morning of October 6th. The approximate value of the sign is $25.

One Thing Leads to Another

4:14 p.m. An officer stopped a car for lack of a license plate and subsequently found that the owner and driver of the vehicle had a suspended Massachusetts driver’s license, due to a prior arrest on July 5th. The driver presented a Georgia driver’s license and claimed to be unaware of his Massachusetts license suspension. The driver, a 29 year-old man from Norwood, was arrested with the assistance of a second officer. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license, a license plate violation, having no inspection sticker, and resisting arrest. He was held without bail.

Advice for Online Harassment

6:18 p.m. A mother and child who reside in Westwood sought advice from police regarding online harassment. Police advised them of various options to pursue.

Saturday, October 5th

Report of Dog Bite

8:00 a.m. Police followed up on a report from Newton Wellesley hospital regarding a dog bite injury at a home on Washington Street. An officer spoke to the victim, a juvenile, along with the victim’s mother. The child reportedly was bitten on the right wrist while at a friend’s house the previous day. The injury required five stitches.

Police interviewed the owner of the dog, who confirmed ownership but claimed to be unaware of the dog bite. The owner was advised that the dog would need to be quarantined for ten days. Vaccination records were obtained, showing proper vaccination had been maintained. However, the dog was unlicensed. The owner was advised to promptly register the dog with the Town of Westwood. The animal control officer recommended behavioral training for the dog and forwarded a report to the Westwood Board of Health.

Friday, October 4th

Resident Reports Experiencing aa Third Case of Identity Theft

10:29 a.m. A resident of Westwood reported being the victim of identity theft, the third such report made by the resident to Westwood Police. The resident informed police that on September 28th, the resident received a letter from Capital One regarding an application for credit for which the resident had not applied. On October 3rd, the resident received a letter from Citibank regarding a fraudulent credit card application. There may also have been attempts to fraudulently apply for credit in the resident’s name at Bank of America and US Bank. None of the applications appear to have been successful.

Shoplifting Suspect Receives Help for Substance Abuse

8:22 p.m. Staff of the Target store on University Avenue reported to police that a woman from Allston was in the store office following an attempt to steal about $160 in store merchandise. The woman reportedly concealed items in a bag. 

The suspect admitted to substance abuse, informed police that she was going through a rough patch, and stated that she lacked any mode of transportation. 

The store issued a notice of trespass for one year, while the officer provided references to a clinician for help with substance abuse. The officer also contacted a supportive family member. The officer offered the suspect a ride to the train station, which the suspect declined.

Emergency Restraining Order Issued

8:25 p.m. Police received a report from a Westwood resident of an ex-boyfriend making an unannounced appearance at the resident’s home. Police assisted the resident in obtaining an emergency domestic abuse restraining order.

Thursday, October 3rd

Mediating a Dispute

8:05 p.m. An officer responded to a residence on Dover Road to mediate a dispute between two unrelated adults. The dispute was verbal and not physical. One of the parties agreed to spend the night elsewhere. The officer provided the party with a courtesy transport to Holiday Inn in Dedham.

Wednesday, October 2nd

Fight Breaks Out Among Adolescents

2:22 p.m. An officer responded to Westwood Public Library on High Street upon receiving a report of two juveniles fighting in the Deerfield School field, near the library’s parking lot. Upon arrival, the officer found two middle-school aged boys with minor injuries. They were treating themselves by applying ice to their heads. And additional three boys were reported to be involved. All parents were notified and instructed to pick up their sons.

Illegal Dumping

3:00 p.m. A business on Wilson Way reported to police that someone had illegally dumped trash in the woods at the back of the business property. A facilities manager had discovered video footage from September 27th at 10:47 p.m., showing two dark SUVs driving to the back of the property to the wooded area. The discarded items included garbage bags, parts of a couch and desk, and other items.

Tuesday, October 1sr

Claim of Assault Determined to be False

8:28 a.m. Police were called to Porche Westwood on Providence Highway by a resident of Norfolk who claimed to have been assaulted by an employee during a dispute over servicing a vehicle. Dealership employees told police that a disagreement caused the customer to become agitated. Upon review of video footage, police determined that the claimed physical assault did not occur. No charges were filed.

Two Customers Threaten, Assault Coffee Shop Employees

12:28 p.m. An employee of Marylou’s Coffee on Providence Highway reported being assaulted when a customer was asked to leave. The employee reported that a male customer had addressed servers in a loud and rude manner while ordering coffee. The store clerk then asked the customer to leave.

 Following that encounter, the customer’s companion, a second male suspect, followed the clerk to a private backroom of the store, exchanged words with the clerk, and struck the clerk with a closed fist. 

The first suspect reportedly punched a lottery machine’s screen before both men fled in a vehicle. The men were also reported to have made threatening statements. 

Police have traced the suspects' vehicle to a West Roxbury resident. Detectives are following up.

Monday, September 30th

Fraudster Impersonates Resident Via Phone/Text

10:35 a.m. An officer was dispatched to a home on Whitney Avenue to take a report from a resident regarding a possible scam involving a contact from Facebook Marketplace. The resident reported that the Facebook Marketplace contact, after being given some personal information, may have opened a Google phone number under the resident’s name. 

The resident reported that a former co-worker of the resident received a text from someone at the Google phone number, pretending to be the resident. 

The complainant tried calling the Google phone number. The resident received a text in response, which asked the resident to provide Apple gift cards.

Police advised the resident to block the phone number, to advise any banks and credit cards companies of the incident, and to put a freeze or watch on the resident’s credit accounts.

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

Updated 10/14/2024 at 10:54 a.m.

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