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3-10-2025 12:06am
Police Log: Driver Asleep at Wheel Arrested for OUI; 2 Injured in Crash with UPS Truck
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.
Sunday, March 2nd
Driver Asleep at Wheel Arrested for OUI
1:13 a.m. Police received a report of someone sleeping at the wheel of a white, Chevrolet Trailblazer in the area of Everett and Washington streets. The vehicle was reportedly still running. The caller who made the report to police had tried to wake the sleeping driver with a honking horn, without success. When police arrived, they determined the sleeping driver’s vehicle was located over the town line, and contacted Norwood Police. The sleeping driver was arrested by Norwood Police for operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
Saturday, March 1st
Rabid Raccoon
1:47 p.m. Multiple residents of Fox Hill Village showed police an injured raccoon at the rear of the property, a short distance into some woods, which was lying on a tree stump. It reportedly had been hissing a residents’ dogs. One resident told police it had been in the same location for 24 hours. When small sticks were thrown in the area to scare it away, it did not move away. Police determined that the raccoon, normally known to be a shy animal that avoids people, was exhibiting symptoms of lethargy and aggression that is associated with rabies. The animal was euthanized by police.
Switching Price Tags and Failing to Scan Items
1:55 p.m. Police were summoned to Target on University Avenue where the store’s loss prevention staff were with a suspected shoplifter who had been observed failing to scan some items at the self-checkout. The suspect paid $23 for merchandise estimated to be worth $155. Merchandise included children’s apparel, groceries, and home goods. Additionally, at least one item appeared to have had its tag switched with a less expensive item, as a child’s dress was recorded by the cash register as a candle. The female was charged with shoplifting by asportation and shoplifting by price tag tampering.
Paying for Some, but Not All
2:38 p.m. Police responded to the Target store on University Avenue where two female shoplifting suspects were reported to have left in a 2012 Ford Fusion, headed to the nearby Panera Bread restaurant. An officer observed a vehicle and two people matching the descriptions, and approached.
One woman produced a receipt for $350 in goods from Target. However, a store employee responded to the scene with video footage showing that while in the self-checkout, some items were not scanned. The suspect agreed to return items worth a total of $50 to Target. Target worked on identifying which of the other items were taken but not scanned.
The 38 year-old woman from Roslindale was charged with shoplifting by asportation and has been trespassed from all Target stores in Norfolk County.
Two People Injured when UPS Truck Strikes Car on Canton Street
10:01 p.m. Two people were transported to the hospital with injuries when a Subaru Forester that was traveling on Canton Street was hit on the front end by a UPS truck. The UPS driver reported that he crept his truck forward from Partridge Drive, entering traffic on Canton Street, and caused the accident. Both vehicles had significant damage and had to be towed.
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Friday, February 28th
Identity Theft to Open Bank Account
10:01 a.m. A resident of Cedar Lane reported that an unknown person had opened a bank account in her name. No financial loss was reported.
A Civil Dispute
11:15 a.m. Police received a report from a contractor on Station Drive, who alleged that a subcontractor had been prepaid as agreed, but had “walked away,” leaving the contractor with a $50,000 loss. Police informed that complainant that such issue is a civil matter, rather than a criminal matter for police.
Road Rage
2:08 p.m. A caller reported being the victim of road rage on University Avenue, when a vehicle began tailgating him on the highway, then followed him onto Canton/Dedham streets, and eventually to University Avenue. On University Avenue, there was a confrontation when both vehicles stopped at a red traffic light. The complainant told the trailing driver to stop following him. The other driver reportedly told him to mind his own business, swore at him, then drove away.
Thursday, February 27th
Vandalism at Amtrak Station
4:29 p.m. Police responded to the Amtrak station on University Avenue for a report of vandalism. An employee of the Amtrak Police reported that the employee’s car had been keyed and scratched on the passenger side, after the employee parked in by the entrance/exit area at 6:00 a.m. that morning.
Stolen Vehicle Recovered in Brockton
8:41 p.m. Westwood Police received notification from Brockton Police that a vehicle had been found in Brockton which had been reported stolen in Westwood on January 3, 2025. Westwood Police contacted the owner of the recovered blue, 2017 Audi Q5. An inspection by Brockton Police found no damage to the vehicle.
Wednesday, February 26th
Antique Firearm Destroyed
10:27 a.m. An antique firearm was turned into police for destruction, after it was discovered during a cleaning of a family’s home in preparation for the home's sale. The Neumann Brothers Side by Side double-barreled shotgun was over 100 years old and its mechanisms were not functional.
Resident Informed of $47K in Bogus Charges on Fake Card Account
5:38 p.m. A resident of School Street reported questionable charges on an alleged Amazon credit card. Upon contacting Amazon, a customer service representative informed her that Amazon does not offer a credit card. The resident noted to police that she was receiving phishing emails, that were claiming that she had $47,000 worth of pending charges on her Amazon credit account which does not exist.
Tuesday, February 25th
Possible Vandalism on Canton Street
12:53 p.m. An officer met with a homeowner on Canton Street who reported damage to a mailbox that had been knocked down. The resident noticed the damage the same day, but had been away for the past week. The value of the mailbox was estimated to be $1,300.
Additionally, the resident reported roofing nails on the driveway, which the resident believes may be related to the fact that the resident has political signs on his driveway. The police report did not mention the nature of the political signs.
Email Gets Hacked by Impersonator
1:29 p.m. A resident of Ridge Road reported that someone hacked her email and social media account(s) and impersonated her. After being locked out of her accounts, she regained access, and made the report to police to memorialize the incidents.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
