14° and Clear
Image
Image by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell.
7-29-2025 1:24pm
Police Log: Car Crash into Tree Injures 2 Occupants; Plumber Suspected of Vandalizing Former Job Site
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.
Saturday, July 19th
Noise Complaint
12:23 p.m. A resident of Westwood Glen Road complained of being harassed by a downstairs neighbor, whom she alleged makes noise at night to keep her awake. The complainant told police that she had declined his request for a date on a dating site, and that he now makes banging noises in his apartment and watches her through her window for about 20 minutes at a time.
Police spoke with the neighbor who appeared confused, claimed that he did not know the complainant, and that the only noise he makes is when he uses the bathroom at 4:00 a.m. Police were informed by a few neighbors, who happened by, that they have not known the man to make any noises.
Shoplifter Steals Meat
1:45 p.m. Staff of Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue reported observing a female suspect place meat into her shopping cart, cover the meat with a large bag, and then place the meat into the bag before exiting the store without paying. Upon being confronted, the suspect left in a vehicle. She is believed to have taken meat valued at $276.
Heated Argument
2:21 p.m. Police responded to Bubbling Brook eatery on High Street for a verbal dispute between two customers. They found an irate female with clenched fists who told police that she wanted to order at the counter with her 3 year-old in a stroller, but she was deterred by another customer at the window who had a dog, which made her uncomfortable. She claimed she asked the woman with the dog to move away, three times, and a heated exchange followed. The woman told police that as the dog owner walked past, the dog owner whispered a wish that the woman’s baby would die. The woman then followed the dog owner, and asked her to repeat it.
The woman with the dog told police that she was waiting to the side of the counter with her dog, waiting to pay, when the woman with the stroller made comments about not approaching the register because of the dog. The dog owner explained her 13 year-old dog was friendly and she needed to pay. She asked the cashier to hurry up so she could move out of the way. She admitted to calling the woman with the stroller a “witch” when she walked by.
The manager of the eatery told police she ran out to separate the women, upon seeing the verbal dispute. She identified the woman with the stroller as being more aggressive of the two, and thought the woman with the stroller would punch the woman with the dog. The manager’s impression was that the woman with the dog was trying to de-escalate the situation.
The woman with the stroller demanded that police give her the identity of the woman with the dog. Police declined and advised her to make a public records request.
Friday, July 18th
Disturbance after Terminating an Employee
10:39 a.m. Police were called to Hale Education on Carby Street on the report of a disturbance. On arrival, police found a female sitting outside a camp area, breathing heavily and crying. She informed police that she had been terminated, and complained that her employer should have fired her over the phone instead of causing her to come into work that morning. She told police she had a lot going on at home.
Police calmed the female, who then departed in an Uber. Police learned from the employer that the termination was for performance issues, and that the fired employee had yelled profanity as she exited the camp ground.
Thursday, July 17th
Elderly Resident Found Wandering in Dedham
3:42 a.m. Dedham Police contacted Westwood Police regarding an elderly Westwood resident suffering from dementia who was found wandering in Dedham. The man’s daughter, also a Westwood resident, was informed that her father was found, and the father was dropped off at his daughter’s home.
Motor Vehicle Break-Ins on Church Street
10:39 a.m. A resident of Church Street reported a break-in of her motor vehicle, after learning that her husband’s motor vehicle was stolen earlier that day, causing her to check on her own car. She found miscellaneous items strewn over her car, but nothing appeared to be missing.
Weymouth Police Department had located her husband’s vehicle, which contained his wallet.
The couple had retired to bed around 10 p.m. the previous evening, and became aware of the crime in the morning.
Plumber Suspected of Vandalizing Former Job Site
12:16 p.m. The owner of an affordable housing project that is under construction on Washington Street reported suspected vandalism by a former employee. The complainant told police that a licensed plumber had completed work at the construction site and had been paid in April. On June 27th, video surveillance showed the plumber entering the property. A short time later, there were issues developing in the concrete foundation of one unit.
Also, according to the complainant, on July 16th, the plumber was again seen entering the property. The next day, the owner learned that HVAC units on the second floor had been unplugged, causing water damage. Damages were estimated to be around $1,300 to repair.
The complainant wished to notify the plumber that he was being trespassed from the property. Police contacted the plumber, who denied causing the damage.
Mediating Resolution with Terminated Employee
12:29 p.m. A manager for the Dunkin’ eatery on High Street requested police assistance with removing an employee who was reportedly causing a disturbance. Police found the woman outside the establishment. Police noted that she was emotional and that she was requesting that management provide her a letter to show the dates of her hire and resignation, which she claimed she needed in order to show the Housing Authority to avoid losing housing for herself and her three children. Management had asked the former employee to write the letter herself, but she had refused, insisting that it be on the business letterhead.
With police mediating, the manager did provide such a letter to the woman. The woman was also given notice of trespass.
Identity Theft to Open Verizon Account
3:37 p.m. A resident of Colby Way reported being the victim of identity theft, upon discovering a collection action for a past due Verizon bill for an account which she did not open. It had been opened under her maiden name, but she uses her married name. The past due balance was $1,199.
Wednesday, July 16th
Suspicious Sighting in Westwood Connected to Vehicle Break-Ins in Norwood
4:37 a.m. An officer spotted a suspicious, dark sedan with one occupant in the parking lot of Norfolk Country Club on East Street. Upon approaching to investigate, the sedan departed at a high rate of speed onto the East Street rotary and to Interstate 95.
The officer followed it to the highway, but lost sight of the vehicle at a bend in the road. Upon returning to the site where the sedan had been spotted, the officer noticed clothing, checkbooks, receipts, credit cards, membership cards, paperwork, a bag of medicine, and items with indicating that they belonged to an individual in Norwood and an individual in Stoughton.
Westwood Police learned that earlier that same night, the Stoughton resident had reported break-ins in to his vehicle and his wife’s vehicle.
It was not until after Norwood Police contacted the Norwood resident to inform him that his belongings were recovered in Westwood that the victim discovered that his Ford F-150 pickup truck had been broken into.
Break-In of Vehicles Outside Fitness Club Using Getaway Car with Attached Plates Stolen in Westwood
5:57 a.m. Police responded to a fitness club on High Street on the report of break-ins into a grey, Honda CRV and a white, Kia Telluride that were parked outside the business while the gym’s members were working out. The culprit(s) had gained entry by smashing the passenger side windows.
The victims reported arriving at the gym at 5:15 a.m. and 5:20 a.m. A third gym member reported seeing a dark sedan – possibly a BMW X3 or X5 - driving very close to the vehicles around 5:35 a.m.
Westwood Police learned that Medway Police had identified a BMW SUV as being involved in another break-in involving residents of Medway. The license plate on that BMW was discovered to be a license plate that was reported stolen that same morning from a vehicle parked at Westwood Glen in Westwood.
Shoplifting Arrest Leads to Charge for Drug Possession
4:12 p.m. Police met with asset protection for the Target store on University Avenue to observe a suspected shoplifter in the store. Staff informed police that the female had already placed items into her purse and into her pants pocket. Upon leaving the store without paying, staff confronted her. Staff informed police that the suspect was also believed to have shoplifted from the store on two other occasions.
Police arrested the Norwood resident for three counts of shoplifting. While conducting an inventory search, police found three clear bags with white substance, which they determined to be 4 grams of cocaine. The suspect was additionally charged with possessing a Class B drug.
Car Crash into Tree Leaves Driver Disoriented and Juvenile Passenger with Injuries
4:23 p.m. Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Hartford Street where they found a Tesla with heavy damage, after it had crashed into a tree. The male driver and his juvenile son had been the car’s occupants and were examined for injuries. The juvenile was suffering from a laceration and puncture wound, and was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital.
Police interviewed the father, a Westwood resident, who appeared disoriented and was unable to recall what happened before the crash. He was unable to answer simple questions such as his son’s birthday and appeared frustrated over his lack of recall.
A witness came forth, who told police that she was driving westbound on Hartford Street when she saw the Tesla, driving eastbound. She told police that the Tesla was driving around 30 m.p.h. when it slowly drifted, crossing the double yellow line, and then crashed into the tree.
The driver was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham. Police issued him a citation for a marked lanes violation.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this Westwood Minute article.
