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6-23-2025 12:01am
Police Log: Police Tackle Fleeing Suspect to Make Arrest, Trespassing on Neighbor's Property to Play, 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 to Westwood Minute through written records and conversations. Occasionally, Westwood Minute may weave a few facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Monday, June 16th
Missing Pride Sign
8:11 a.m. A resident of Baker Street reported that a Pride sign had been taken from the resident’s property. The resident did not want to make an official report but wanted police to be aware of the incident.
Lost and Found, Not Stolen
5:55 p.m. A resident of Longmeadow Drive reported stolen house keys. The keys were located with the assistance of a police officer.
Trespassing on a Neighbor’s Property to Play
6:23 p.m. Police received a report from a resident of Pond Plain Road that a woman and two juveniles were trespassing in a neighbor’s backyard. Police responded to the address and spoke with the woman, who told police that her two children had seen the swing set in the backyard and wanted to stop and play.
The woman reportedly did not seem to understand that her family should not be on the homeowner’s property without permission.
Police note that this type of incident has happened before with the woman and her children. Police informed the woman that coming onto the property without permission is technically trespassing. The woman assured police that it would not happen again.
Sunday, June 15th
Investigating a Hit-and-Run
7:11 a.m. Police received a request from the Kennebunkport Police Department in Maine for assistance in checking whether the passenger side rear area of a Toyota Rav4, that is owned by a Westwood resident, had signs of damage from a suspected hit-and-run. Police responded to the residence of the vehicle owner, but the homeowner and vehicle were not present.
Police Recover Store Merchandise from Fleeing Shoplifters
5:50 p.m. Police responded to the University Station shopping plaza on University Avenue upon receiving a report from Target store staff that two females suspected of shoplifting had left in a grey, Hyundai Elantra. An officer spotted a vehicle matching the description on University Avenue at Blue Hill Drive and made a traffic stop.
Upon being questioned, a passenger in the car returned to police four stolen items – cosmetics and skin care products – worth $27. The driver claimed to already have returned items to store staff when they attempted to stop her in the store. She is believed to have taken hygienic and cosmetic items worth $182. Store staff later confirmed that other items had been recovered.
Police advised the females – residents of Boston in their early 20s - that they were being trespassed from the store. Police charged the passenger and driver with shoplifting.
Saturday, June 14th
Employee Steals Cash By Applying Discounts at Register
11:22 a.m. Police received a report from Lambert’s Fruit on Providence Highway regarding an employee stealing cash from the register. The store provided police with a video from June 11th in which the employee was observed applying discounts to merchandise until the discounts totaled $100. The employee then removed $100 from the register. The store did not wish to press any charges but wanted a record made of the incident.
Noise Complaint
11:30 p.m. Police responded to a complaint of a loud party on Oak Street. The owner was advised to reduce the noise level of the party.
Friday, June 13th
Irate Customer Threatens Harm to Business Employees
4:32 p.m. Staff at a car dealership on Providence Highway reported threats of harm made by a male customer. Police also received a complaint from the customer, himself, about the dealership.
Employees of the dealership told police that the customer had made multiple calls over the past week, demanding that a $1,000 deposit be returned. He had paid deposit for the transport of a vehicle purchase to his home in Oregon, but then demanded a refund when he declined to finalize the sale.
In response to the customer’s refund request, dealership staff reportedly agreed to the return of the deposit, and asked the customer to remove a bad review that he had posted online. The customer reportedly refused to remove the bad review. The reportedly caused the manager to call the customer a “bad guy.”
The customer reportedly proceeded to make threats of harm against dealership staff, and also advised an employee that he should call police, perhaps impliedly for protection. The employees were concerned that the out-of-state customer might send an agent to harm them, prompting their call to police.
Upon being contacted by police, the customer denied making any threats. He accused the business manager of bad practices.
Stolen Merchandise Includes Clothing, Baby Items
5:46 p.m. Police received a report from loss prevention staff at the Target store on University Avenue regarding a male pushing a cart of merchandise out of the store without paying. The cart contained clothing, baby items, and assorted toiletries that were worth a total of about $500.
Drinking and Driving
10:46 p.m. Police received a complaint from the area of Whitney Avenue that a group of youth were drinking alcohol, and then proceeded to drive away. Police arrived at the scene but the suspects were gone upon arrival.
Thursday, June 12th
iPhone Purchased on Black Market is Stolen
2:11 p.m. A resident of High Street complained that his iPhone had been stolen. He told police that it was purchased on the “black market” after which he sent it to a technician for software updates and repair. The complainant reported that the phone was returned to him in a plastic bag on May 28th, but the bag was ripped and the phone was missing.
Firearm is Turned In
2:44 p.m. A resident of Westwood Glen Road requested that police take possession of her firearm. She had recently moved to Westwood and did not want to obtain a concealed weapon permit, and preferred to dispose of it. The firearm was a Cobra 380 pistol. She also turned over 40 rounds of ammunition to police.
Unexplained Broken Window on Car
6:14 p.m. A resident of Pheasant Hill Street reported returning home to find a window had been smashed on her car. She was unaware of the cause.
Wednesday, June 11th
DPW Truck Backs into Car
12:12 p.m. Police received a report of a car accident involving a Department of Public Works truck. The caller was driving her Subaru Forester on Dover Road near Woodland Road, and came upon a block in the road. A car was blocking traffic, causing a Department of Public Works truck to reverse direction, which caused the truck to back into complainant’s vehicle. The collision caused moderate damage to the Forester’s hood and front bumper. No injuries were reported.
Tuesday, June 10th
Police Tackle Fleeing Suspect to Make Arrest
7:51 p.m. Police responded to the University Station shopping area on University Avenue for the report of a suspected shoplifter who had taken items from Nordstorm Rack and fled on his scooter. He appeared to be attempting to hide near the Chipotle eatery located in the shopping plaza.
Police located a person matching the suspect’s description, and activated a cruiser’s blue lights, and then air horn to initiate a stop when the suspect failed to stop. The suspect reportedly looked over his shoulder and continued to flee through the parking lot, toward the Target store.
A police cruiser was able to pull up alongside the suspect. In attempting to avoid another car, the suspect’s scooter hit a berm on a parking lot island, causing him to crash his vehicle.
Although police ordered him to stop and get on the ground, the suspect ran away. An officer tackled him, as he continued to resist arrest. With assistance, an officer was able to place the suspect in handcuffs.
The suspect was treated for a laceration to his leg, and transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston for treatment. He was released from the hospital and charged with failure to stop for police, operating a motor vehicle after suspension, resisting arrest, and shoplifting. Police determined that he had attempted to steal $629 in merchandise from the Nordstrom Rack, which included a number of Ralph Lauren brand clothing items and New Balance shoes.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
