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11-25-2025 12:18am
Police Log: Threats Reported, Truck Collides with Telephone Pole, Snapping It in Half, 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 facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Monday, November 17th
Securing Vehicle with Open Door
3:57 a.m. An officer investigated an open car door on Colburn Street. The officer found that nothing appeared to have been rummaged through.
Leaf Blower Noise Complaint
6:38 a.m. Police received a call regarding noise from someone blowing leaves at the Dedham Country and Polo Club. Police informed the work crew of Westwood’s noise bylaw, and the crew agreed to stop work until 7:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 16th
Construction at Midnight
12:07 a.m. Police received a complaint from the area of University Avenue regarding noise from a construction vehicle. Police spoke to the construction worker who assured them he would be wrapping up shortly.
Strange Find
3:10 p.m. A resident of Briar Lane reported to police finding a step stool, hidden in the bushes, near a window in the resident’s front yard. The step stool has been removed.
Saturday, November 15th
Shoplifting Suspect is Wanted on Drug Charges
5:23 p.m. Police responded to a report of shoplifting at Target store on University Avenue, where the suspect was seen departing in a grey, Toyota sedan. Staff observed the suspect surveying the store, then rapidly selecting a Dyson vacuum, blender, and air fryer. She was observed getting into the checkout line, but then leaving the line and proceeding to leave the store with the cart of unpaid merchandise.
Two employees attempted to stop her, but she fled, abandoning the merchandise. The total value of the abandoned merchandise was $586.
Police tracked down the registered owner of the vehicle driven by the suspect. It was registered to a man who told police that he loans his car to his children’s mother. He reportedly informed police that the suspect has a drug problem which has led to a past arrest.
Police also learned that the suspect has three open warrants for her arrest. One was for cocaine possession in Dedham and one was for possessing a Class B drug in Brookline. Police are charging the suspect with one count of shoplifting. Westwood Police will also be applying for an arrest warrant.
Friday, November 14th
Truck Collides with Telephone Pole, Snapping It in Half
4:28 a.m. Police responded to 225 Dover Road where a freight truck struck a telephone pole, breaking it in half, and additionally struck a fence. Police found the vehicle with the telephone pole leaning on it, and wires laying over the vehicle.
The driver informed police that the vehicle had jerked to the right, and the driver was unable to correct it, resulting in the truck colliding with the pole and fence. Westwood Fire and Eversource were summoned and determined there was no immediate hazard.
The driver was cited for a marked lanes violation. The truck was towed.
Fraud on Bank Card for MacBook Purchase
2:47 p.m. A resident of Lanark Drive reported a fraudulent charge of $950 from a Best Buy purchase on the resident’s bank card. The resident had ordered a new debit card on November 8th, but told police she never received it. She learned that someone had placed an online order for a MacBook, and it was picked up in the Everett Best Buy Store on November 13th. Police are investigating.
One Thing Leads to Another
8:02 p.m. An officer investigating a verbal altercation in the parking lot outside Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue encountered a woman in a Toyota Camry with Maryland license plate. She had a Maryland driver’s license. Police discovered that the plate and driver’s license had both been suspended. The woman reportedly told police she was living in her vehicle and was not aware of either suspension. Police reported that she became distraught when informed the vehicle would have to be towed. The Maryland resident received a citation and will be summoned for unlicensed operation of an unregistered motor vehicle.
Thursday, November 13th
Juvenile Suspect(s) in Shoplifting
11:13 a.m. The manager of the Alltown convenience store on High Street reported a suspected shoplifting by one or more juveniles. The store manager told police that four teenagers entered the store together, and one paid for items while one or more of the others stole gum and/or candy worth about $10. It is believed that a suspect may be a student who attends Westwood High School.
The manager is not interested in pressing charges or pursuing a trespass against the juvenile(s), but requested that police relay a message to the culprit(s) and tell them to stop stealing from the store. Police will handle the case through Westwood’s school resource officer.
Missing Birth Certificate
3:48 p.m. A resident of Glen Road reported that her daughter’s birth certificate was missing. She had ordered a copy one or two years ago. It was on November 12, 2025 that she realized that the document was not in its proper place. It may have never been delivered as expected by UPS. A delivery record from UPS could not be obtained because the company only retains such records for 180 days.
Wednesday, November 12th
Mother Threatens DCF Employee
11:30 a.m. A resident of Westwood who is employed by the Department of Children and Families reported receiving threats from a Dorchester resident whose children had been removed from the parent’s home. According to the complainant, the children’s mother reportedly threatened to kill the Westwood resident during the mother’s counseling sessions. The Westwood resident is requesting that DCF remove the resident from the family’s case. Police have documented the reported interaction.
Hit-and-Run or Vandalism?
5:18 p.m. An officer took a report of property damage on Brookfield Road. The complainant told police that he left his 2025 Kia Sportage at a friend’s house while travelling. When he returned, his vehicle had minor damage to its rear fender.
Monday, November 10th
Shoplifter is “Going Through a Tough Time”
4:52 p.m. Police responded to a report from the Target store on University Avenue that a female had attempted to exit with unpaid merchandise. Staff observed her select board games, Pokémon games, five mugs, and clothes, and put them into a Marshall’s store bag. When confronted, she admitted to shoplifting and told police she was going through a tough time. The Wrentham resident, in her 30s, will be summoned for one count of shoplifting.
Threats from a Drug Dealer
5:34 p.m. A resident of Mill Street complained to police of a harassing text from an unknown person who self-identified himself as the former drug dealer for her niece. The person told the resident that he was coming for her niece and other family members.
Police advised the resident not to respond, to secure her home, and to contact police if she received further messages. Police attempted to contact the person at the identified phone number on the text, but was unsuccessful.
Suspicious Appearances
8:43 p.m. Emergency dispatchers received a call reporting that a male party was struggling to change the front of a vehicle tire on High Street. The caller was concerned because the vehicle appeared damaged, and the caller was afraid that the male party would get hurt.
Police located the individual and the damaged car, noticing that the front right side of the vehicle appeared to have newly sustained damage. The driver, a resident of Norwood, claimed that the damage was due to vandalism the night before, which he claimed was reported it to Norwood Police.
Westwood Police contacted Norwood Police to confirm the fact, but were informed that Norwood Police had no recent dealings with the individual. Westwood Police inquired of nearby cities and towns regarding any recent hit and runs, but received no confirmation. The vehicle was towed due to the extensive damage.
Loud Conversation Disturbs the Peace
11:43 p.m. Police responded to Washington Street on the report of two males yelling. Upon arrival, an officer found one person talking loudly on the phone.
Destroying Ammunition
2:02 p.m. Police took custody of .22 gauge ammunition, which was found during a housecleaning. The ammunition was turned over for police destruction.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information to this Westwood Minute article.
