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7-21-2025 12:04am
Police Log: Teens Spray Mace at Police, Customer Mentions Plans for Armed Robbery, 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.
This installment of the weekly series is a bit longer, as it includes entries from the prior week which were not published, due to a temporary change in publication schedule.
Monday, July 14th
Building a Structure on Private Property is a Trespass
12:00 p.m. Police received a complaint of trespassing and damage to a rock wall on Thatcher Street. Upon arrival, police observed that stones at the rear of the property had been removed and a log structure was being built on the homeowner’s property, adjacent to Westwood High School. Police contacted the school resource officer to facilitate the removal of the structure.
Phishing Call
11:22 a.m. A resident of Edgewood Road reported receiving a phishing call, in which the caller claimed that police had a warrant for his arrest.
Sunday, July 13th
Unattended Toddlers in Car
5:20 p.m. Police received a report of two, unattended toddlers in a vehicle in their car seats on University Avenue. The vehicle was gone upon police arrival.
Friday, July 11th
Hawk Flies into Home’s Window
8:39 a.m. A resident of Woodland Road reported a hawk was injured after flying into a window of the resident's home. It had been sitting on the resident’s porch for about an hour. The animal control officer responded and transported the injured animal to a rehabilitation center in Weymouth.
Bat Flies into Home
9:38 a.m. Police received a complaint from Churchill Road about a bat on the third floor of a home. The bat was captured and taken to a lab for testing for potential disease.
Shoplifter Makes EBT Transaction for Food, then Steals other Items
5:07 p.m. Police responded to the Target store on University Avenue on the report of a shoplifter who had left the store. She was described as a woman with red hair, wearing a jean jacket, and accompanied by two young males. Police were unable to locate the suspect and spoke to store staff. The staff reported that the suspect had placed merchandise in her cart and in her purse. She made a purchase using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and scanned a few items at the self-checkout, but failed to scan clothing, jewelry, a handbag and other items. The value of the stolen items is estimated at $303.
One Thing Leads to Another
5:08 p.m. An officer conducting traffic enforcement conducted a query on a Toyota Tundra, and discovered that its registered owner had his license suspended for failing to pay child support. Police made the traffic stop on High Street near Lakeshore Drive. The driver, a resident of Worcester, was arrested for operating a motor vehicle after license suspension.
Racoon Stuck in Chimney
5:36 p.m. Police received a report of a racoon stuck in a chimney of a home on Weatherbee Drive. The animal control officer was advised.
Thursday, July 10th
Protection against Coyotes
1:40 a.m. Police were flagged down by a party on Washington Street who reported seeing a person walking with a metal rod. Police located the individual. He was walking with a stick. The individual told police he was walking to Norwood and carried a stick in case he encountered coyote. Police provided the man with a courtesy ride to Norwood.
Eight Loud Bangs
1:57 a.m. Police received a report that eight loud bangs, possibly the sound of fireworks were heard in the area of Sherman’s Way. Upon investigation, nothing was found to be amiss.
Threatened by a Former Teammate
4:41 p.m. A resident of Whippoorwill Drive reported learning of online threats made against him by a former teammate. The complainant learned of the threats after they were forwarded by a friend. The complainant told police he has had no contact with the former teammate for many years. The complainant requested extra checks of his neighborhood.
Unwelcome Party Lingers at Resident's Home
5:05 p.m. A resident of Winter Street complained to police that a male party was walking in the yard on the side of his home for around 20 minutes. He suspected it may be his former personal trainer with whom he is not on good terms. Police investigated and ensured the home was secure.
Wednesday, July 9th
He Says, She Says
11:46 a.m. Police spoke with a party from Randolph who reported a past motor vehicle accident on July 2nd around 11:50 a.m., when he was leaving the Amtrak station on University Avenue, and headed toward the entrance to I-95 South. He reported that another vehicle, in a lane dedicated for left turns only, entered his lane on the right. He told police that the other vehicle reportedly struck his car. He reported that the other driver stopped and that they exchanged information.
Police contacted the other driver, a resident of Easton, who had a different story. She told police that while waiting in the left-turn lane, she was struck by a vehicle in the right lane that had pulled into her lane. She told police that the other vehicle appeared to be trying to avoid backed-up traffic in the right lane.
Police have noted that the Randolph resident’s vehicle was struck in the front quarter panel, while the Easton resident’s vehicle was struck in the area of the rear passenger tire.
Unemployment Assistance Fraud
1:01 p.m. A resident reported receiving a letter regarding unemployment assistance for which she had not applied. She also reported that there were five or six attempts made at opening credit card accounts in her name.
Stealing Diapers
9:46 p.m. The Target store on University Avenue reported that a male, aged around 45 years old, briefly entered the store and exited with unpaid merchandise - two packs of diapers, worth about $90. Staff were able to recover the merchandise, but unable to obtain more information about the suspect.
Tuesday, July 8th
Animal Causes Car to Swerve and Run over Rock Wall
2:12 p.m. Police responded to High Street where they found a grey BMW atop a rock wall. The rock wall was damaged and trash barrels appeared to have also been struck, with trash strewn along the ground. The vehicle had heavy damage to its front fender and undercarriage. The driver told police that an animal ran in front of his vehicle and he swerved to avoid it. He declined medical treatment. Police cited the driver, a resident of Naples, Florida, with failure to remain in a marked lane.
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Monday, July 7th
Dover DPW Truck Strikes Parked Car
2:14 p.m.Police received a report of a past accident on Carby Street in a parking lot of Hale Education. Two witnesses observed a parked car being struck by a Town of Dover Department of Public Works truck, which was dumping as part of a Dover Road project. The witnesses observed the car wobbling on two wheels from the impact, and watched the truck drive away. A license plate for the truck was provided to Westwood Police, who contacted the driver. The driver reported being unaware of the impact. Police provided the truck driver’s information to the owner of the stricken car.
Saturday, July 5th
Stealing Beer
4:15 p.m. Staff from Budget Inn on Providence Highway reported that an employee, who also resides at the inn, is suspected of stealing beer from another employee who also lives there. Staff did not want to press charges, but wants the behavior to stop.
Friday, July 4th
Fireworks Disturbance
9:23 p.m. Police received multiple calls regarding a large fireworks show being set off in the neighborhood of Alder Road. Police spoke with the homeowner regarding neighbors’ concerns.
Thursday, July 3rd
Woman with Small Dog Steals Library’s Flowers
1:52 p.m. Police received a complaint from staff of Westwood Public Library on High Street that flowers, which had been funded by donations, were stolen from the library. Staff informed police that around 9:30 p.m. on the previous evening, a blonde female, approximately 55 to 60 years old with a small dog on a leash, had come onto the library property from the direction of Deerfield Avenue. She reportedly took flowers from the library property, and then left in the direction of High Street.
Customer Departs Peacefully after Stating He is Robbing Store with Weapon
5:40 p.m. Police were dispatched to Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue upon the report that a customer had mentioned robbing the store and having a weapon in his possession. When police arrived, the male customer had left.
A manager told police that a veteran employee of many years was working in the store’s café when a man, described as 6’2”, 200 lb., came to the register to order an energy drink. The customer inquired about getting cash back, and the clerk told the customer that there was only $60 at the café register, but more money available at the main registers.
The customer reportedly told the clerk, “I’m going to need $6,000, not $60,” and stated that he could not go to the bank because it is “drug money.” The clerk believed the man was joking.
The man pulled out his wallet, and reportedly stated, “I’m robbing the store. I have a gun on me.” However, he did not make any motion to retrieve a weapon. He walked to a place in the café to eat his food. About 15 minutes later, after eating, he left. Police were not summoned until sometime afterwards. Detectives are investigating.
Crowd of Teens Spray Mace at Police
11:24 p.m. Westwood Police were summoned to Randolph, where Randolph Police biking officers were being overwhelmed by a large crowd of teenagers. The teenagers reportedly were spraying Randolph Police with mace. Westwood Police, as part of MetroLEC’s bike unit, responded to assist with crowd control. Police were able to disperse the crowd of without use of force.
Tuesday, July 1st
Disposal of Firearms
12:03 p.m. A resident of Buckmaster Road surrendered firearms and accessories to police, after finding them in the home of a deceased relative. The resident turned over two wood-stocked rifles, ammunition, and cleaning supplies.
Resident’s Phone Number Used in Scams
1:30 p.m. A resident of University Avenue reported receiving a call from a detective in San Bruno, California, who told her that her phone number is connected to various scams and that she should file a report with Westwood Police. The resident was informed that an address in China was associated with her phone number, for transactions dating at least as far back as May 5, 2025. She is unaware of any financial loss.
Suspect Who Used Her Children to Shoplift May Be Guilty of Child Abuse or Neglect
4:15 p.m. Police met with asset protection staff of the Target Store on University Avenue who had identified a suspected shoplifter who reportedly gave merchandise to her three children – aged 12, 11, and 9 – so that they could place unpaid merchandise into one or more bags as the group walked around the store.
The suspect had been apprehended for another shoplifting incident at another Target store in the past. In this incident, she was determined to have stolen clothing, snacks, groceries, and Pokémon items worth a total of $134. A trespass order was issued, and the suspect, a woman in her early 20s from Dorchester, will be summoned for shoplifting.
Police also filed a 51A report for child abuse or neglect with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.
Monday, June 30th
Unsafe Driver May Lose License
1:59 p.m. An officer on private detail with a tree company, was stationed at the intersection of Pond and Oak streets when the officer observed a black Honda approach from the direction of High Street. According to the police report, the officer, dressed in yellow, reflective gear, signaled with palms up for the driver to stop, but the driver continued straight, without slowing. The officer took a step into the road, but the driver reportedly continued past, with the vehicle reportedly coming within one foot of the officer. After passing the officer, the driver finally stopped, and reportedly nearly caused a head-on collision with other traffic.
The driver informed police that he did not see the officer requesting that he stop. The driver was cited for unsafe operation of a motor vehicle and was reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles as constituting an immediate threat, which may result in the suspension of the driver’s license.
Fighting off Bees with a Shovel
9:56 p.m. A caller reported hearing loud, metallic banging outside, in the area of Webster Street. Police investigated and learned that a neighbor was fighting off bees with a shovel.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
Updated 7/30/2025 at 11:14 a.m.
