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3-17-2025 12:05am
Police Log: Passenger Injured When Car Strikes Tractor Trailer 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 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.
Thursday, March 13th
One Thing Leads to Another
3:30 p.m. An officer was conducting traffic enforcement in the area of High and Gay streets when a green motorcycle passed, which the officer noted was not registered. The cruiser followed the motorcyclist into the parking lot of Chase Bank, and the officer approached the motorcyclist.
The 24 year-old man from Whitman told the officer that his license was not allowed to be renewed due to his failure to pay child support. He also did not have insurance. He told the officer that a friend allowed him to use the motorcycle to make deliveries for DoorDash, but he did not produce any information to confirm the identity of the friend or paperwork for the motorcycle.
The officer placed him under arrest and charged him with operating the vehicle after license suspension, driving an uninsured motor vehicle, and driving an unregistered motor vehicle. Bail was set at $200 and paid.
Sunday, March 9th
Crash after Vehicle Runs a Red Light
1:15 a.m. An officer was conducting stationary traffic enforcement and observed a 2013 Mercedes-Benz attempt to cross Washington Street from School Street, even though the signal for the vehicle was red, indicating a stop. The Mercedes crashed into the side of a 2014 Chevrolet that was traveling south on Washington Street on a green light. The driver’s side airbag of the Chevrolet deployed.
When questioned, the driver of the Mercedes-Benz, an older woman from Natick, told police that she did not know that she had run a red light. No injuries were reported, and the father of the Chevrolet driver arrived to drive the Chevrolet home to a residence in Westwood.
Shoplifting between Pay Checks
6:01 p.m. An officer responded to the Target store on University Avenue on the report of a male suspect in the custody of asset protection staff, who was reportedly observed stealing $144 worth of merchandise by hiding it in his backpack. The suspect reportedly said that he could not afford the shirts, and does not receive a paycheck until the end of the month. The suspect was trespassed for one year for all Target locations.
Saturday, March 8th
Suspicious Vehicle
10:30 p.m. A resident of Buckboard Lane reported a suspicious vehicle in the street, with all lights turned off. When the resident arrived at home, the vehicle departed.
Friday, March 7th
Hit-and-Run Damage to Mailbox
12:51 p.m. An officer took a report of a hit-and-run that occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4th, when an Amazon box truck hit a mailbox at a Bay Colony Drive residence, after backing out of the neighbor’s driveway.
The complainant told police he believed the driver was aware of the damage to the mailbox, because the truck stopped for about 10 seconds, and then drove off very quickly. The incident was captured on a home surveillance camera.
The mailbox is made with granite and has an estimated cost of $1,200. The resident has contacted Amazon and wanted the incident documented by police.
Thursday, March 6th
Flirtatious Scammer
1:40 p.m. A resident of Brook Street, who is a realtor, reported receiving a call from a “Jason William” who told her he lives in San Diego, California, and cannot personally view homes for sale but is interested in purchasing a property in the $2.8 million range. The complainant told police she offered a virtual showing, which Mr. William declined, and then he reportedly became flirtatious. The realtor suspected a possible scam and has blocked the caller’s number.
Wednesday, March 5th
Runner Reports Dog Bite
7:36 a.m. A resident of Kingswood Road reported being bitten by a dog when she was running. She told police that she was passing a man who was about 6’ tall with two dogs – a large black poodle and a smaller, fawn-colored dog. She alleged that one of the dogs lunged and bit her, causing minor bruising on her leg.
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Demand for $150K in Bitcoin
10:00 a.m. A resident of Stonegate Lane reported receiving a suspicious letter which demanded $150,000 in bitcoin from the resident’s company. The resident informed police that his company has reached out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and has learned this is a scam. No monetary loss has resulted.
Impersonating Microsoft Employee
10:17 a.m. A resident of Colburn Street reported a possible scam after she called a phone number that she found online which she believed belonged to Microsoft. She was attempting to contact Microsoft for help to unlock her Microsoft account.
When she called the number, the customer service representative told her it would cost $90 for assistance and asked her to wire the money. At Needham Bank, when inquiring about making the wire transfer, a bank teller informed the woman that the request was a scam and advised her to freeze her accounts.
No monetary loss has resulted, and the woman did not disclose any secure information.
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try Again
1:54 p.m. A resident of Arcadia Road discovered someone had stolen his identity when the person’s unsuccessful attempt to purchase a car was reported to Greenfield Police in February. However, the fraudster made another, successful attempt to purchase car from the dealership, Sonia Chrysler in Orange, Massachusetts, which the resident reported to police in March.
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz E=Class vehicle was purchased for $60,000 but was still on the dealer’s lot, due to difficulties in securing registration for it. Westwood Police contacted the dealership, which said it would not release the vehicle to the purchaser and would contact the Orange Police.
Passenger Injured When Car Strikes Tractor Trailer
2:08 p.m. One person was injured and transported to the hospital after a Subaru struck a tractor trailer truck on High Street. The tractor trailer was traveling on High Street when the Subaru attempted to turn from North Street onto High Street, and failed to yield. The Subaru struck the hydraulic tank of the tractor trailer, causing the tank to blow up into pieces, leaving a debris trail of hydraulic fluid of about 200 feet, until the truck came to a stop in the area of Blueberry Lane. Both vehicles required a tow. The driver of the Subaru was cited for failure to yield while turning left, and a passenger in the Subaru was transported with injuries to the hospital.
Tuesday, March 4th
Arrest for Failure to Appear
4:58 p.m. An officer conducting stationary traffic enforcement at 335 Providence Highway observed a white Toyota pickup truck with a broken taillight. The officer learned that the registered owner of the pickup had a warrant for his arrest from Wrenthem District Court for failure to appear. The officer made the arrest, and the man from Fall River was released after paying $90 in bail.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
Updated March 17, 2024 at 10:07 a.m.
