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4-20-2026 1:12am
Police Log: Knife-Wielding Shoplifting Suspect Arrested for Assault, Drug Possession; Med-Flight for Fall Victim
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 incorporate facts that it obtains from other sources into these stories.
Sunday, April 12
Dispute over Backyard Access Near Conservation Land
8:27 a.m. A resident of Reservoir Road reported concerns over seeing a man walking his dog through the resident’s backyard. The resident reported that, upon telling the man to stop, the man responded that the land is conservation land. The homeowner acknowledges there is conservation land behind the house but alleges that the man has been walking on his private property, in his yard. The resident has children and is concerned.
Needham Woman Arrested after Violating Trespass Order
6:18 p.m. Police responded to the Target store on University Avenue for a shoplifting by a suspect who has previously been trespassed from the store for shoplifting. On this occasion, staff observed the 63-year-old Needham woman concealing infant-related merchandise, such as hygiene products, in her purse. The total value of the stolen items was $408. She was arrested for the trespass violation and shoplifting, and later released on $300 bail.
Saturday, April 11
Child Struck by Car on Nahatan Street; No Serious Injuries Reported
12:53 p.m. Police received a report of a child being hit by a car on Nahatan Street around 12:30 p.m. The child’s father reported the incident to police while the child’s mother transported her to the hospital for an evaluation. The father told police that the driver stopped and provided his personal information.
Police contacted the driver, a Norwood resident, who was cooperative and told police that he did not see the child due to her small size, and that she was not in a crosswalk when his car bumped into her. He reported that the child immediately got up after falling, saying, “Sorry, sorry.”
On the day following the incident, police contacted the child’s father and learned that she was “doing okay” and that no serious harm had occurred.
Police determined that the child had not entered the street at a crosswalk and had crossed unsafely. No citation was issued.
Thursday, April 9
Early Morning Car Accident on Providence Highway Sends Driver to Hospital
12:10 a.m. Police responded to a two-car accident on Providence Highway near Lambert's Rainbow Market, where airbags had deployed. The driver of the trailing vehicle told police that the car ahead had quickly slowed, leaving insufficient time for the trailing driver to stop before rear-ending the leading car. The driver of the leading car, however, reported traveling at a normal speed when struck from behind. The driver of the leading vehicle was transported to the hospital. Both cars were towed.
Public Marijuana Use Near Cemetery
8:01 a.m. Police received a report that an older male, dressed in Native American clothing, was publicly smoking marijuana while walking in the area of the cemetery on High Street. Police did not locate the individual.
Med-Flight Summoned for Fall Victim
12:38 p.m. Police responded to a medical call from Gay Street, where an individual described as an older gentleman injured himself after falling backwards at his home. A med-flight was summoned to the playing field behind Roche Bros. market, and the man was taken by helicopter to the hospital.
Knife-Wielding Shoplifting Suspect Arrested for Assault, Drug Possession
1:23 p.m. Staff of the Nordstrom Rack on University Avenue reported observing a man using a knife to cut price tags off store merchandise and place them into a black suitcase. The man reportedly waved the knife at a store employee as he exited. He entered a grey Toyota RAV4 and drove away from the store toward the nearby Michael’s store. An officer who was in the area quickly located the vehicle and stopped the car as it headed onto University Avenue toward the highway.
Another officer arrived to assist. There were three men in the vehicle. They were ordered out of the car, with precautions taken, given the description of a knife being used in the store.
Inside the vehicle, officers found a small, black suitcase containing two pairs of sneakers and soap. A Nordstrom Rack employee identified the items as stolen merchandise. They still were labelled with the store’s stickers, even though price tags had been cut off. Also, inside the SUV, officers found unprescribed medicine and pill bottles.
Police arrested two of the car's three occupants. Police charged a 61-year-old Charlestown resident with three counts of possessing a Class E drug. Police charged the second man, a 71-year-old Plainville resident, with shoplifting, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of Class B drugs (amphetamines) and Class C drugs (lorazepam).
Suspicious Tax Assistance
6:25 p.m. A resident of Everett Street reported suspicion of Social Security fraud. She told police that she went to a tax assistance company in West Roxbury and believed the front desk employee was acting suspiciously. The resident reported that the employee told her that her cell phone number and Social Security number were tied to another name, “Jessica Springer.” When the resident asked to see the employee’s records, the employee refused. The resident has reported the incident to the Boston Police and has been advised to freeze her credit and to report the incident to Social Security.
Wednesday, April 8
Family Member Suspected of Sending Harassing Mail
4:40 p.m. A resident of Burgess Avenue reported receiving a letter in the mail addressed to her in her maiden name, with the inclusion of the word, “Cock” in her name. The mailing appears to be an informational mailing from an education-related project or business. It follows her husband’s receipt of many harassing emails at home and work in which the word, “Cock,” appears before his last name. (See story titled, “Harassing Email Ads,” Westwood Minute’s April 1, 2026 article, Police Log: Medfield Man Arrested for OUI after Drinking Low-Alcohol Beer)The complainant believes that the sender is a family member who has been confronted. The resident is reporting the incident to create a record.
Locker Room Theft
10:29 p.m. Police received a report of items being stolen from a locker room at Life Time fitness center on Harvard Street. The complainant stated that he left his personal belongings in an unsecured locker, and returned to find his cell phone, car keys, and bank card missing.
Monday, April 6
Parking Problem
4:51 p.m. A resident of Dover Road complained of an ongoing parking issue with a neighbor’s contractor, whom she alleges parks on her curtilage while working on the property of a neighbor across the street. The complainant told police she installed a makeshift fence and placed paracord with a “No Parking” sign on her property. She later discovered that the sign was down and the paracord was cut.
Shoplifting Suspect Admits to Theft at Target
5:47 p.m. Police responded to the Target store on University Avenue for a shoplifting and located a suspect in the store parking lot. The suspect, a resident of Bridgewater, admitted to taking football cards and a sweatshirt but told police that he returned the merchandise to employees upon being confronted. Store staff estimate that he attempted to steal items worth $390. He was trespassed from the store and charged with one count of shoplifting.
Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Driver for Drug Trafficking
9:45 p.m. On Washington Street, an officer observed a 2013 Nissan Altima passing by with no light activated on the front passenger side. Upon making a traffic stop, the officer learned that the driver, a 36-year-old resident of Dorchester, had his license suspended for failure to pay child support. He was arrested for driving on a suspended license.
In an inventory search of his vehicle, police discovered six baggies with brown powder consistent with the appearance of heroin or fentanyl and four baggies of a solid, white substance consistent with the appearance of crack cocaine. Along with the charge for driving after suspension, the suspect was charged with trafficking fentanyl and possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. Police estimate the suspect was found in possession of about 22 grams of narcotics.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and Westwood Police Department for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
