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4-28-2025 12:10am
Police Log: Robbed by a Friend, Drug Related Arrests, Juvenile Vandals 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, April 21st
Aggressive or Playful Dog?
10:55 a.m. Police received a report of a dog bite from a jogger, who was running on Hawthorne Street near Poplar Street. She reportedly had recognized an unleashed dog as the same one which had growled at her in the past. This time, she reported that the dog growled and bit her on the left elbow, breaking the skin. She told police that a thin, young male appeared from the home on Poplar Street to get control of the dog.
Police responded to the home and found a young female who told officers that the father of her child was taking care of a dog for a friend. The dog itself appeared at the screen door, reportedly barking and growling.
A young man, who matched the description provided by the jogger, emerged and appeared to police to be immediately confrontational. The young man reportedly asked to see a photo of the dog bite and claimed that his dogs never leave the home’s lawn. Upon further conversation, he reportedly threw up his hands, asked if he was being detained, then went back into the home and refused to come back out.
Police spoke with the young man’s mother, with whom he lives. The mother reported that the dog was friendly. She believed the dog had been trying to play with the jogger.
This case has been forwarded to the animal control officer for follow-up.
Saturday, April 19th
Robbed by a Friend
9:07 a.m. A guest of the Budget Inn on Providence Highway reported being robbed by a friend who had spent three nights with him there. He told police that when he awoke, the friend was gone, along with $900 of his money that had been placed under a pillow.
The victim described his friend as currently homeless, and told police that she frequently could be found on Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, at “Mass. and Cass.” He had a cell phone number for his friend but did not provide it to police.
On April 22nd, police spoke with the victim again, who stated he was extremely upset. This time, he provided his friend’s cell phone number to police. Police attempted to call her, and left a voicemail.
The suspect was discovered to have a criminal history with 44 arraignments, 34 of which were related to larceny, forgery, and/or fraud. Police have applied for a warrant for her arrest.
Wind at Fault
2:00 p.m. Police received a complaint of damage to a car while parked outside the Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue. The complainant showed police a small dent in the door of her Mazda CX-30, and a note that she found on her vehicle. It read, “This woman hit your car with her carriage . . .” and went on to give the suspected perpetrator’s license number and a description of the suspect’s car.
Police contacted the driver associated with the described car. The woman explained that she had been putting her toddler into her own car when the wind blew her shopping cart into the complainant’s car. The incident appears to be unintentional and an accident.
Shoplifting Suspect is Trespassed
7:56 p.m. Police were summoned to the Target store on University Avenue where a 45 year-old male shoplifting suspect was in the store’s office with loss prevention staff. Staff had observed him concealing merchandise worth $155 in his pocket at the self-checkout. The man, a resident of Hingham, was trespassed from the store.
April 18th
One Thing Leads to Another
6:55 p.m. Police stopped a grey, Dodge Ram in the area of East Street and Strafford Road after making a query on the passing vehicle. The vehicle was not insured and not registered. Upon making the traffic stop, police discovered that the driver, a 38 year old man from Dorchester, had a warrant for his arrest. He was charged with driving without registration, driving without insurance, and was arrested on the warrant.
Thursday, April 17th
Arrest for Drug Distribution, Possession
3:53 p.m. Around the 600 block of High Street, an officer observed the male driver of a black, Ford Escape pass by, as he was using a cell phone in violation of the “hands-free law.” The vehicle had a temporary New Hampshire tag on it.
Police made a traffic stop on High Street near the Gay Street intersection. Both the driver and his female passenger provided Massachusetts identification, but neither occupant had any documentation for the vehicle. A check with the vehicle registry found that the driver had a suspended license for operating under the influence of drugs last year. His passenger also did not have a valid license, as her license had been revoked in 1994.
The car would have to be towed, due to both occupants being unlicensed. When the woman stepped out of the car, the officer observed items known to be used for drug distribution, including clear plastic baggies with liquid bandage spray. In taking inventory of the vehicle, the officer observed a prescription bottle with a name on it which was neither the driver’s nor passenger’s name. A search of the passenger resulted in finding a suboxone strip.
Both driver and passenger were arrested. The driver, a 42 year-old man from Boston, was charged with operating a motor vehicle after license suspension, and distributing class B, C, and E drugs. The woman, a 56 year-old from Boston, was charged with distribution of class E, B, and C drugs and possession of a class B drug. Bail was set at $5,000 for the man and $2,500 for the woman.
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Mediation of a Dispute
1:38 p.m. Two officers responded to a residence on Winter Street on the report of a verbal argument over a vehicle repair. Insults were hurled, but no physical contact took place. Police mediated.
Suspicious Find in Woods
7:53 p.m. An officer responded to the parking lot of Bubbling Brook restaurant on High Street on the report of a dead dog under suspicious circumstances. The officer investigated and found the body of a decomposing canine a short distance into the woods bordering the property. The carcass was mostly bone, and was positioned under chicken wire, which was held down by concrete blocks. It appeared burned.
The officer investigated at a nearby home. The homeowner informed the officer that her high school-aged child was interested in animals and nature. He apparently had found a deceased coyote on the side of the road, and placed it in their backyard in the name of science, because he was interested in decomposition. The teen was hoping to obtain a skeleton, she said. The chicken wire was to prevent predators from disturbing the animal’s body, she explained.
The officer determined that no crime had been committed.
Wednesday, April 16th
Report of Child Neglect
10:50 a.m. Police were summoned to Westwood Public Library on High Street on the report of two very young boys who had been unattended in the children’s section for what was described as a lengthy time.
The responding officer located the children – a 2 year old and a 4 year old - and introduced himself. He asked who brought them, and the older child responded “Mama.” The children were unable to supply more information, such as where they lived or what school they may attend.
When the group walked outside, an older woman approached. She informed the officer that she was their grandmother who had dropped the children off, after telling the children that she would meet them inside.
The officer explained that leaving children of this age alone, in a public building, for 20 minutes, was too long. Police contacted the mother of the children, a Westwood resident, and filed a Section 51A with the Department of Children & Families.
Two-Car Collision at Hartford and High Rock Streets
7:20 p.m. Police responded to the intersection of Hartford and High Rock streets for a two-car collision. The impact between a 2014 Honda driven by a Westwood resident, and a 2024 Honda driven by a Milford resident, caused both cars to depart from the road and drive into a residence’s white fence.
Both drivers claimed to have stopped at the intersection before proceeding. The Westwood resident informed the officer that no other vehicles were at the intersection at the time.
Based upon the evidence of impact, location of vehicles, and debris, the officer – a certified crash reconstruction technician – concluded that the Milford resident had failed to stop. The officer cited the Milford resident for failure to stop.
Tuesday, April 15th
Stolen Mail
12:37 p.m. A resident of Cedar Lane reported stolen mail. Outgoing greeting cards, including at least one card with money, had been removed from the resident’s mailbox the previous day, between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
A neighbor reported having home security video that showed a driver in a black Tesla pulling up alongside the mailbox, open the mailbox, and appear to take nothing from the empty mailbox.
The resident cancelled the check(s), and no monetary loss was reported.
Harassment from Former Tenant
1:06 p.m. The manager of Highland Glen apartments on High Street reported receiving harassing phone calls from a previous tenant. No threats were made; however, the calling party was arguing about a past dog bite incident at the property that involved his dog. The manager sent the man a trespass notice, informing him that he was not welcome on the property.
Juveniles Caught Committing Vandalism at Deerfield School
3:31 p.m. Police were notified of vandalism at the Deerfield School property on April 11, between 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Police received a screenshot showing three juveniles destroying a Safety Town playhouse, pushing in its siding, and causing the house to fall apart. The youths then moved the structure into the parking lot, apparently to further destroy it. The juveniles were identified as Westwood residents, aged 12 and 13 years old. Their parents were notified.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
