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12-16-2024 12:51am
Police Log: Flag Vandalized at Grave of World War II Navy Veteran 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, December 8th
Firearms Found in Home Cleaning
11:53 a.m. An officer was dispatched to a home on Fisher Street where relatives were cleaning out a home of a deceased resident, and located firearms with accessories. They found a 12 gauge shotgun and one Auto-Ordnance .45 caliber rifle. The family turned the items into police custody while deciding how to best dispose of them.
Flag Vandalized at Grave of World War II Navy Veteran
12:43 p.m. Police responded to a town resident who reported vandalism to an American flag at a grave in Westwood’s old cemetery on Nahatan Street. The flag was originally placed at the grave of a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, but had been detached from its 12-inch post, and reattached upside down. There was derogatory graphetti in black marker on the flag. The complainant told police that the flag had writing on it a few days earlier, but the witness had not yet examined it.
Friday, December 6th
Mediating Marital Dispute
6:34 p.m. Police responded to Wentworth Street on the report of a disturbance. Police found a married couple engaged in a verbal argument, and helped to mediate the dispute.
Customer is Disturbed by Long Wait at Eatery
8:00 p.m. An officer responded to a report of an unruly customer at the Smashburger on University Avenue. A man from Unionville, Connecticut reportedly was yelling that the eatery’s staff was racist. When the individual was asked to explain, he reportedly could not form full sentences but repeated his claim. An officer spoke to the eatery’s manager, who explained that after taking the customer’s order, staff informed him that the item would require an extended wait time and a long time to cook. The man from Connecticut reportedly became agitated and cursed at the staff. The manager requested that the customer be removed. Police informed the man that he was no longer welcome at the eatery.
Thursday, December 5th
Vehicle Slides in Snow, Strikes Tree
4:56 a.m. Police responded to a one-car accident in the area of Xaverian Brothers High School on Clapboardtree Street, where a 2015 Toyota required a tow after disabling front-end damage. The driver, a man from Holliston, told police that he lost control of his vehicle in the snow when he attempted a turn. His car travelled over the right shoulder of the road, striking a tree. The driver reported no injury.
Vehicle Window Vandalized by Thrown Brick
8:34 a.m. A resident of Edgewood Road reported vandalism to a vehicle. The window of an SUV had been broken with a brick, sometime between 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. that day. The motive is unknown.
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Suspicious Phone Call Suspected of Being Cryptocurrency Scam
11:29 a.m. A pharmacist employed at the CVS on Washington Street reported receiving a suspicious phone call on her personal cell phone about one hour earlier. A male-sounding voice told her that he was calling from “the courts” and that she was in trouble for missing jury duty in a murder case. He asked her to go to the Lucky Mart convenience store at 501 Washington Street in Norwood. Police have noted that the store has a Bitcoin ATM and surmise the caller might have wanted the pharmacist to deposit money in it. The pharmacist hung up and reported the call to police.
Suspicious Customer is Curious about Store Security
12:50 p.m. A salesperson in the GNC store on University Avenue spoke to police about a suspicious conversation with a man who came into the store. The man is described as about 60 years-old, with white hair that is slicked back, and a brown trench coat. He reportedly asked for product information, and then oddly inquired about security features in the store. The man left, but the salesperson did not see where he went. Police searched the area but did not find anyone matching that description.
Tuesday, December 3rd
Customer Complains of Varying Hotel Room Rates
6:28 p.m. An officer responded to Budget Inn on Providence Highway regarding a complaint of a customer being overcharged for a room. The complainant, a man from Lynn, told police that he was being charged varying rates. The hotel’s staff reportedly advised the customer that the room rate varies based on the length of stay. It was explained to the complainant that he was free to seek other lodging.
Monday, December 2nd
Thanksgiving Disturbance
12:09 p.m. A resident on Highland Glen Road reported an unpleasant encounter with another resident on Thanksgiving evening, during which the other resident was reportedly yelling and screaming at the complainant. The complainant noted that most of the shouting was unintelligible, but the complainant wanted a record made of the incident.
Earring Found
1:50 p.m. A Westwood resident who found an earring on Oak Street presented the item to police for safekeeping. The earring has an approximate value of $100.
Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.
Updated 12/16/2024 at 10:26 p.m.
