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4-15-2025 12:33am
Police Log: Drunk Driver Drives into Sand Pile, Over $1K in Stolen Goods Found in Suspects’ Car, 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.
Sunday, April 6th
A Notable Burial
8:46 a.m. Police received a call from the area of Wessex Drive regarding the sight of a female crossing the road and burying something with a shovel. Upon investigation, police discovered that the buried object was a diseased mallard that had been struck in the road.
Police Discover Over $1K in Stolen Goods in Suspects’ Car
1:42 p.m. Police received a report that a number of women, believed to have been shoplifting from the Target store on University Avenue, were leaving the area in a white Volvo. Police observed a vehicle matching the description turning left from University Station on University Avenue in a northbound direction.
Police made the traffic stop and identified the car’s occupants - a woman from Randolph and a woman from Dorchester. Asset protection staff from Target identified the women as the suspects from Target.
During the stop, police discovered stolen merchandise in the vehicle that belonged to Target along with other stores in the University Station shopping center. Police found the suspects in possession of merchandise worth $699 from Target and additional merchandise from Five Below, Marshalls, and Wegmans. Two Ninja slushies worth $308 were discovered and merchandise from Wegmans worth $660 was also discovered.
Juveniles Trespassed for Causing Nuisance
6:53 p.m. Security for Ann Taylor on University Avenue contacted police to report that a group of juveniles was running through stores at the shopping center, causing a nuisance. The group had reportedly dumped a pot of coffee in Panera Bread. An officer spoke to the juveniles, a group approximately in their mid-teens, and informed them that due to their behavior, they were being trespassed. If they were to return, they could be subject to arrest. The teens departed by an Uber ride to go home.
Saturday, April 5th
Lost Dog?
12:04 p.m. Police received a report of a small, white dog walking along Washington Street. Upon police arrival to the area, the animal could not be found.
Friday, April 4th
Police Arrest Drunk Driver Who Runs BMW into a Sand Pile
1:16 a.m. Police received a call that a black BMW C3 was disabled, and resting upon a large sand pile in front of a maintenance shed in front of Norfolk Golf Club. Upon arriving at the scene, police identified the driver as a 30 year old woman from Dedham. She believed she was in Jamaica Plain, and told police she had come from a place called “Top Shop.” Police believe this may have been an attempt to say, “Top Golf,” which is a business in the neighboring town of Canton. The woman told police she had only had one expresso martini and refused field sobriety tests. Police arrested the woman for OUI alcohol. She was released on personal recognizance to a sober party.
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Suspicious Car Belongs to Private Investigator
12:47 p.m. A caller from Carroll Avenue contacted police with a concern about a private investigator who was parked in front of the home.
He Said, She Said, Larceny Case
5:12 p.m. Police received a complaint from the manager of Smashburger on University Avenue, who relayed suspicions that an employee, who recently resigned, may have stolen $300 from the business. The manager told police that there were many issues with the employee who was about to be fired when she resigned. Police contacted the former employee who denied taking anything. Beyond the manager’s suspicions, police found no evidence to connect the former employee to the larceny, and closed the case.
Thursday, April 3rd
Tax Return Fraud
1:47 p.m. A resident of Highland Glen Road reported a case of tax fraud. The resident told police that when he went to H&R Block for assistance with his taxes this year, his agent informed him that someone had already filed a tax return in his name.
Wednesday, April 2nd
Failure to Yield
8:13 a.m. A Land Rover driven by a Westwood resident and a Honda driven by an Upton man collided at the intersection of High and Conant streets.
The driver of the Honda told police that the eastbound traffic on High Street had stopped to let him make his turn from Conant onto High Street. The Land Rover, traveling west on High Street, swerved over the yellow line to avoid striking the Honda. Neither driver was injured, but there was significant damage to the front passenger side of the Land Rover, which was towed. The Honda had front fender damage, but was able to drive from the scene.
Police cited the Upton man who was driving the Honda with failure to yield.
Teenagers Trespassed from Store for Unruly Conduct
6:26 p.m. Loss prevention staff at the Target store on University Avenue reported to police that a group of teenagers were playing bumper cars with shopping cars and spraying silly string inside the store. When store staff confronted them, they made threats against the store security, and began recording Target staff on their phones. The mother of one or more of the youths informed Target that the silly string being used was not stolen, but paid for. The store verbally trespassed the teenagers.
Suspicious Person Gone on Arrival
7:52 p.m. A caller on Everett Street reported to police that a person was walking up the driveway, and into the caller’s backyard. The suspect was wearing a windbreaker and shorts. Police responded, but the trespasser was gone on arrival.
Monday, March 31st
Rear-end Collision Affects 3 Cars
4:35 p.m. Police responded to a 3-car crash on Washington Street at Waldo Way, where a black Mini Cooper rear-ended a black Honda Tucson, causing the Tucson to strike a white Toyota RAV4. The driver of the Mini Cooper, a woman from Walpole, told police she estimated she was traveling 25 m.p.h. when she rear-ended the Tucson which had stopped.
The airbag in the Tucson deployed, and both its front and rear ends were significantly damaged. The driver of the Tucson, a woman from West Roxbury, was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham to be evaluated.
Police cited the Walpole resident for following too closely.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
