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3-03-2025 12:50am
Police Log: OUI Arrest after Crash, Suspicious Man in Van Approaches Juvenile and Other Stories
Darlene Cancell
Editor
The news described in this installment of 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 Michael DiLalla 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, February 24th
Convenient Opportunity for Theft
9:14 a.m. Police met with the manager of Seasons convenience store on Providence Highway regarding a man who entered the store around 5:10 p.m. on the prior evening, put merchandise into a black bag, and exited without paying. He was known to live at the nearby Budget Inn, just a few hundred feet away from the store, and was believed to have committed multiple past thefts. Based on the description provided, police found the 28 year-old suspect at Budget Inn and informed him that he was being trespassed from the store. No charges have been filed yet as police await an itemized list from the theft.
Sunday, February 23rd
Intoxicated Driver Arrested after Crashing His Mercedes
2:38 a.m. Police received a call regarding a motor vehicle crash in front of 358 East Street, where the driver of the vehicle was seen getting out of the damaged vehicle, then re-entering to drive onto the East Street rotary.
Police found a brown Mercedes Benz in the breakdown lane of the East Street overpass. It had significant damage to the passenger side. Police encountered the driver, a 43-year old resident of Milton, who was observed to smell of alcohol, have glossy and bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. Police learned that the man was driving from Stoughton, after spending time with a friend. He claimed to have had only two drinks. When police asked the driver about damage to his vehicle, he responded that he was checking his email, swerved, and hit a curb.
Based on field sobriety tests and observation, police determined the man was intoxicated and arrested him for the criminal offenses of OUI (second offense), leaving the scene after causing property damage, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and the civil offense of a marked lanes violation.
Saturday, February 22nd
Possible Drug Overdose
6:15 a.m. Police responded to a location in Westwood on the report of a possible drug overdose related to use of prescribed medication. The person was transported to the hospital.
Fraudulent Facebook Account
12:00 p.m. A resident of Conifer Lane reported tampering with his business Facebook account. The complainant, who is in the real estate business, told police that two weeks prior, he saw an account on Facebook with his company’s same logo but different contact information. He is aware of no monetary loss at this time and has also reported the dual account to Facebook.
Woman Walks in Breakdown Lane of I-95
7:52 p.m. Massachusetts State Police, who were tied up on a response to a crash, requested mutual aid in addressing the report of a female who was walking in the breakdown lane of Interstate 95. Westwood Police responded.
Friday, February 21st
Attempt at Medicare Fraud
3:02 p.m. A resident of Burgess Avenue reported a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from “CVS.” The caller transferred the resident to another party whom the resident described having a male voice with an Indian accent. The person asked the resident for the resident’s name, address, age, and Medicare number. The resident hung up. A little while later, the resident received a call that appeared to be from the resident’s doctor’s office, but the voice on the phone sounded to be the same as the previous caller. The resident reported the incident to the resident’s doctor and to Medicare as attempted fraud.
Identity Theft to Purchase a Car
3:18 p.m. Police visited a resident of Arcadia Road, following a call from Greenfield Police Department regarding its discovery of identity theft of the Westwood resident. Apparently, a person had tried to purchase a car using a fake identification and provided the Westwood resident’s name, address, and social security number. Staff at the car dealership became suspicious and reported the incident to Greenfield Police, without making the sale.
In One Week, Driver Cited Twice for Driving on Suspended License
3:53 p.m. An officer was conducting stationary traffic enforcement in the area of University Avenue and Dartmouth Street when the officer observed a Blue Hyundai Sonata pass by with damage to the front and left side of the vehicle, and a “smashed out” headlight. The officer ran a check on the vehicle and discovered the owner had a suspended license and that the car’s registration had also been suspended.
Upon making the traffic stop, the officer encountered the driver, a 35 year-old man from Lowell, who was identified as the owner of the car. The driver informed police that his license was expired, as he had not renewed it. The officer noted the driver’s license was suspended, not expired. Upon reviewing the man’s driving history, the officer learned that on February 14th, just one week earlier, the driver had been cited for driving on a suspended license by the Bedford Police.
Based on that information and the current incident, the officer made the arrest. The car was towed, and the man was later released on personal recognizance.
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Fireworks Disturbance
7:05 p.m. Police received a report from the area of Westchester Drive and Lancaster Drive of fireworks being set off. The cause of the disturbance could not be located.
Police Locates Shoplifting Suspect Driving on Providence Highway
8:08 p.m. While Westwood Police were enroute to respond to a report of shoplifting from the Target store on University Avenue, where a shoplifting suspect had left the scene in a grey, Hyundai sedan, after being confronted by store staff who observed her bagging multiple items but failing to pay. An officer recalled observing a vehicle matching that description passing by the officer’s location in the area of University Avenue, a little earlier. The officer turned the cruiser to follow in the passing vehicle’s direction, and found the 2021 Hyundai Elantra after searching the area of University Avenue and Providence Highway. The officer made the traffic stop at 340 Providence Highway, and encountered the driver, a 43 year-old woman from Canton, along with her son and granddaughter in the car.
She claimed to have no knowledge of the earlier shoplifting event, but the officer observed merchandise in Target shopping bags inside her vehicle and asked for their receipt. The woman produced a receipt showing a purchase of $18.17, which later were determined to have been paid by an EBT card.
However, the officer noted that merchandise in the vehicle appeared to be more than what was represented on the receipt. Additionally, the woman matched the description of the suspect, who was reported to be wearing a black hat. Target store staff also reported that the suspect had left after failing to scan multiple items.
Based on that information, the suspect was charged with shoplifting by asportation and arrested. Police also reported the incident to the Department of Children and Families. Police spoke to the suspect’s daughter, who came to the police station in the evening of that same day to return the merchandise. Items stolen included a number of items of men’s and baby clothing, a Stanley cup, and other items. The total estimated value of items taken is $194.
Thursday, February 20th
Intoxicated Resident Placed in Protective Custody
Around 3:00 p.m. Following report of a disturbance in Westwood, police discovered an intoxicated man. He was placed into protective custody and transported to the hospital for treatment and evaluation.
Wednesday, February 19th
Hundreds of Dollars Missing from Found Purse
3:40 p.m. Police spoke to a woman who complained that $400 was taken from her wallet after she left her purse in a shopping cart in the parking lot after unloading groceries from Wegmans on University Avenue. When she realized the loss, she returned to the store and inquired at the customer service desk. Her purse was returned with all property accounted for except for the missing $400.
Switching Price Tags
5:39 p.m. Police arrived at Target on University Avenue where they encountered a 62 year-old woman from Randolph with the store’s asset protection staff, who appeared distraught. Staff informed police that she was observed scanning items at the self-checkout, but two items had the wrong tags. A pair of slippers and a hair dryer were run up with a $2.90 price on each, which is associated with cheese packets. The shoplifting suspect is also suspected of previously shoplifting from the same store in at least five previous instances. She was trespassed from all Target locations, charged with shoplifting, and arrested before she was released on personal recognizance.
Tuesday, February 18th
Suspicious Man in a Van Approaches Juvenile
8:11 p.m. Police took a report from a juvenile and her parent on Thompson Avenue regarding a suspicious man in a white van. They told police that the juvenile was walking in the neighborhood when a man in his 40s to 50s drove over in a white, unmarked van, and asked the juvenile which house was hers. The interaction made her uncomfortable. Before she could answer, her rottweiler appeared and seemingly scared the driver, who departed.
The man was described as middle aged, having no facial hair, and possibly wearing a uniform or clothing resembling a uniform. The van was described as being similar in style to delivery vans used by Amazon drivers.
Police found a car and driver matching the description on Old Carriage Road. The driver, who was not known to have committed any crime, refused to provide any identification and information.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
