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7-27-2026 12:34am
Police Log: Truck Sideswipes School Minibus; Man Sets Underwear on Fire, Is Later Arrested
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 Detective Lieutenant Christopher Aylward 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.
Wednesday, July 22
Dump Truck Sideswipes School Minibus
Midmorning. Police responded to the intersection of Clapboardtree and Washington streets where a dump truck had sideswiped a Westwood Public Schools minibus. The minibus had stopped at the traffic light on Clapboardtree Street and was preparing to make a left turn onto Washington Street, and the dump truck had attempted to go around it. Westwood resident Kevin Becker reported seeing three occupants in the minibus after the accident – the driver and two youths – along with a large amount of broken glass on the ground. He observed that the entire driver’s side of the bus was “relatively crushed.”
Police said the dump truck driver, a Randolph resident, was cited for a marked lanes violation. The minibus was towed. The truck was able to be driven away from the scene. No injuries were reported.
Monday, July 20
Porter Street Party Ends after Noise Complaint
12:35 a.m. Police received a second noise complaint from a second residence regarding a party on Porter Street. Police visited the residence, where the party was ending.
Recurring Charge Reported as Credit Card Fraud
12:31 p.m. A resident of Westwood Glen Road reported that a recurring charge of $40 charge appearing on her credit card statements over several months. The unauthorized purchases appeared to be related to a Nevada address.
Fraudulent Unemployment Benefits Claim
1:04 p.m. A resident of Phillips Brooks Road reported that someone had fraudulently applied for unemployment benefits in the resident’s name. The resident learned of the false application after being contacted by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance.
Noisy Digging on Crystal Hill Terrace
8:00 p.m. Police responded to a complaint of a noise disturbance on Crystal Hill Terrace, where a neighbor was digging up rocks. Police visited the residence, where the homeowner stated that they had lost track of time. The homeowner stopped digging.
Sunday, July 19
Noise Complaint on Strafford Road
8:32 a.m. A resident of Strafford Road reported a noise disturbance from a neighbor using heavy machinery. Police advised the neighbor of the town bylaw that prohibits use of heavy machinery before noon on Sundays.
Noise Complaint from Party on Porter Street
11:07 p.m. Police received a complaint about loud music on Porter Street. Police learned that a neighbor was hosting a party and advised the neighbor to lower the volume.
Friday, July 17
Vehicle Vandalized on Smith Drive
10:16 a.m. Police received a report of vandalism from a resident of Smith Drive, where a vehicle’s windshield had been smashed. Two bricks lay nearby, suggesting that they had been used to cause the damage.
Suspicious Activity on Hartford Street
10:26 a.m. A resident of Hartford Street reported that a female had attempted to open the resident’s door, as well as the door of a neighboring home, without ringing either doorbell.
Cut Trees Give Rise to Property Line Dispute
1:19 p.m. Police received a complaint from a resident of Oak Street regarding a property line dispute after trees were cut down. Police have noted that the matter is civil, not criminal, and could be appropriately addressed through the courts.
Needham Man Sets Fire to Underwear, Later Arrested for Damaging Vehicle
5:46 p.m. Police responded to Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue, where an individual reportedly had their pants on fire.
Upon arriving, police discovered a shirtless man wearing shorts, who had set fire to his underwear. The Needham resident reportedly had soiled his underwear and decided to burn it in the patio area outside the supermarket. Police informed him he was being trespassed from the Wegmans store, and allowed him to leave.
7:43 p.m. Police responded to the parking lot of Chipotle eatery on University Avenue, following a report that an individual was pushing shopping carts into vehicles. Upon arrival, police determined that the suspect was the same Needham resident whom they had encountered in the shopping area two hours earlier for reportedly setting fire to his underwear.
Police determined that the man was now pushing shopping carts at high speeds through the parking lot, reportedly to test the carts’ capabilities, and that his actions had damaged at least one vehicle. A 2017 Honda Accord had a dent in the rear passenger-side quarter panel and rear door.
Police arrested the 48-year-old Needham resident on charges of malicious destruction of property and trespassing. Police determined that he had already been trespassed from the entire University Station shopping and business center in December 2023. The earlier no-trespass order was issued after he had reportedly used his vehicle to strike shopping carts.
Thursday, July 16
Pedestrian and Driver Give Different Accounts
12:34 p.m. A resident of the state of Texas reported an incident of road rage that she said occurred while walking through a crosswalk on University Avenue. The complainant told police that a black Jeep came into contact with her as it abruptly stopped at the crosswalk, causing her to brace herself by placing her hands on the vehicle's hood.
Police spoke with the driver, a resident of Walpole, who told police that the complainant entered the crosswalk wearing headphones with her head down. He told police that he had honked his horn to make her aware of the Jeep’s presence, and that she responded by approaching the Jeep, smashing her hand upon the hood, and walking around the stopped vehicle while slapping its side and rear before exiting the crosswalk.
Police are investigating whether video may have captured the incident, as there are no known witnesses. Photographs of the Jeep appear to show palm prints on the passenger-side hood and mirror, and rear window, consistent with part of the Walpole resident’s account.
Wednesday, July 15
Resident Responds to Suspicious Computer Pop-Up Message
4:00 p.m. A resident of Westwood Glen Road reported that her computer may have been compromised after she responded to a pop-up message on her computer screen that instructed her to call a phone number to remove a computer virus. She called the number and spoke to an individual, but became suspicious during the call. She ended the call and reported the incident to police, who advised her to have her computer examined for malware and to monitor her financial accounts for suspicious activity.
Dog Bite on Washington Street
8:13 p.m. Police received a report of a dog bite involving a pedestrian on Washington Street. The pedestrian reportedly was walking with a group of friends, and made a movement that the dog’s owner said startled the dog, causing it to bite the pedestrian. The pedestrian walked to the Islington fire station for medical assistance. The incident has been referred to the animal control officer.
Monday, July 13
Unknown Cause of Van Damage
3:16 p.m. Police received a report from the Westwood Council on Aging regarding damage to the rear of the council’s van. It was unknown how the damage occurred.
Trapped Inside a Fence
3:53 p.m. A caller reported hearing a person yelling after becoming trapped in a fenced-in area near a commercial shopping area on Washington Street. A follow-up call informed police that assistance had been provided and the person was no longer trapped.
Thanks to Detective Lieutenant Christopher Aylward and Westwood Police Department for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
