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4-28-2026 12:46am
Arrest of Suspect Tied to $700K+ in New England Thefts, Objects Thrown at Passing Cars
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.
Monday, April 20
Unauthorized Dumping on High Street
10:47 a.m. A building contractor working at a property on the 900 block of High Street complained of unauthorized dumping into the contractor’s dumpster. The contractor was using the dumpster for brush and vegetation, which should not be mixed with trash, but the contractor noted that someone had used the dumpster to dispose of building materials. The contractor believed the illegal dumping occurred between Friday, April 17, and Monday, April 20.
Wallet Stolen at Nordstrom Rack
7:00 p.m. A Needham resident reported that her wallet was stolen while she was shopping at Nordstrom Rack on University Avenue. She told police that $1,500 cash and four credit cards were inside the wallet. She had arrived at the store around 5:00 p.m. and noticed her wallet was missing while at the checkout counter around 7:00 p.m. Nordstrom Rack staff reviewed store video but did not see anyone around the complainant’s purse. Police advised her to freeze her credit card accounts.
Saturday, April 18
Object Thrown at Passing Car on High Street
10:35 p.m. Police received a report from the operator of a motor vehicle that something was thrown at her car as she was driving on High Street. She reported seeing a male and female laughing at her from inside another car.
Object Thrown at Passing Car on Alder Road
11:01 p.m. Police received a complaint from a resident of Oak Street that someone in a white sedan had thrown something at the complainant’s car in the area of Alder Road. The caller had followed the car into Walpole, then lost sight of it. The complainant’s car was not damaged.
Friday, April 17
Employer Threatened by Former Employee's Posting Image of Handgun
8:43 a.m. Police responded to a business on University Avenue where the owner reported concern over comments made by a former, disgruntled employee on social media. The employee had posted a black and gold handgun and a communication on Instagram that the owner interpreted as a threat. Police assisted the owner in notifying the employee that the employee was being trespassed from the property.
One Thing Leads to Another
10:24 a.m. Police observed a white Tesla pass by, and the driver was using his cell phone. Upon making the traffic stop in the area of High Street and Fox Hill Street, police learned that the driver had a warrant for his arrest for failure to appear in court to answer to charges of leaving the scene of property damage. The 59-year-old driver from Westwood was placed under arrest and transported to Dedham District Court.
Arrest of Suspect Tied to over $700 in Thefts in New England
11:10 a.m. Police responded to the CVS store on Washington Street for a shoplifting in progress. The suspect was described as a male carrying a Star Wars bag and driving a car with Florida plates, traveling from School Street to Washington Street. Police located the vehicle, activated cruiser lights, and pulled over the 2025 Ford Explorer. During the stop, police observed a reusable, Star Wars bag on the car seat.
After observing the driver reaching behind him, police ordered him out of the car, and instructed him to keep his hands visible. He was handcuffed.
In a search of the car, police discovered packages of Zyrtec and Rogaine valued at $570. There were also a number of over-the-counter medicines, including Zyrtec and Prilosec, valued at $12,727. The suspect, a man from Brooklyn, New York, was charged with one count of organized retail crime, one count of shoplifting, and one count of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. The suspect has been tied to thefts in the New England area involving stolen merchandise valued in excess of $700,000. The suspect has an extensive criminal history and was held without bail.
Wednesday, April 15
Rear-End Collision Involving Three Vehicles on Providence Highway
2:12 p.m. Police responded to Providence Highway for a three-vehicle accident caused by a rear-end collision. The driver of the trailing vehicle reported looking for a street sign, then slamming on the brakes too late, resulting in a chain reaction of rear end collisions with the two cars in front that were stopped in traffic. The airbag deployed in the trailing vehicle, and that driver – a resident of Needham - was transported to the hospital for injuries. The driver of the middle car, a resident of Norwood, was also transported to the hospital for possible injuries. The driver of the leading car, a resident of West Roxbury, reported no injuries.
Scammer Impersonates a "Sergeant" from Norfolk County Jail
8:11 p.m. A resident of High Street reported receiving a call from an unknown person who identified themselves as sergeant from the "Norfolk County jail." The caller told the resident that he had missed jury duty and would be arrested. The resident was told to prepare his Social Security number and birth certificate. When the resident asked where he should go, the caller hung up. The resident initiated a call to Norfolk County Correctional Center, and confirmed his suspicions that the call had been a scam.
Monday, April 13
Multi-town Police Pursuit of Recklessly Operated Motorbikes
5:03 p.m. An officer conducting stationary traffic enforcement on Washington Street heard an alert from Dedham Police regarding a group of erratically traveling motorbikes headed from Dedham into Westwood. The officer soon observed a group matching that description pass by, and turned on the cruiser’s blue lights.
The motorbikes slowed, but then rapidly sped away. The officer observed the motorbikes performing wheelies, traveling on the wrong side of the street, and otherwise operating recklessly. The group continued on Washington Street, through heavy traffic, toward Norwood. Westwood Police pursued the group until the riders turned left onto Everett Street and continued into Norwood. The group traveled through Norwood to Walpole, evading both Norwood and Walpole Police who had been alerted.
Police Interrupt Bitcoin Scam in Progress
7:45 p.m. Police received a request to perform a well-being check on the female driver of an orange Murano, located outside the CVS store on Washington Street. The sister of the subject of the well-being check was concerned after receiving a text from her.
Police located driver, and spoke with her. She informed police that she was on the phone with a caller who was demanding $5,000 in Bitcoin and threatening arrest if she disconnected the call. She had driven from Medway to Boston to make the transaction, and was on her way to a second location to make another $4,000 transaction. Westwood Police advised the driver that there was no warrant for her arrest and that the call was a scam. She was referred to the Medway Police to file a police report.
Suspicious Late Night Visitor
10:18 p.m. A resident of Farm Lane contacted police to report that a person was walking on a neighbor’s property where the home was under construction. Police determined that the suspicious person was a plumbing contractor who would be leaving shortly.
Thanks to Lieutenant Michael DiLalla and Westwood Police Department for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
