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8-27-2026 12:20am
Police Log: 50 Vehicles in Street Takeover, Passing Vehicle Clips Pedestrian, Problems with Teen Hangout in Woods
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.
Sunday, August 16
Street Takeover on Lowder Brook Drive
4:37 a.m. Police responded to a disturbance on Lowder Brook Drive. One resident described hearing booming, rap-type music that lasted about 30 minutes. Upon arrival, police encountered approximately 50 vehicles leaving the area and headed toward Interstate 95. Police believe the incident was related to a “street takeover” event that had started earlier in Boston and appeared to have ended in Westwood. Police report that within 10 minutes of their arrival, all vehicles had left the area.
Saturday, August 15
Woman Suspected of Failing to Scan over $400 in merchandise
3:55 p.m. The Target store on University Avenue reported apprehending a 53-year-old woman from Mattapan who is believed to have attempted to leave the store after scanning a few of many more items. The store estimates that the woman attempted to leave with electronics, apparel, home items, health and beauty items, and décor valued at $444. The suspect reportedly has an extensive history related to shoplifting. She was arrested and charged with shoplifting over $250.
Citation for Darkened License Plate
7:05 p.m. While on patrol on Providence Highway, an officer observed a Land Rover Range Rover Sport with a dark, tinted cover over its license plate. The officer learned that the car’s registered owner had a suspended license. Upon making the traffic stop, the officer confirmed that the driver was the owner. Police cited the driver – a Mattapan resident - for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and for a number plate violation.
Hit-and-Run on Washington Street
10:12 p.m. After logging a crash report, Dedham Police alerted Westwood Police to a hit-and-run on Washington Street in Dedham. Dedham Police believed the black SUV was headed south into Westwood. Westwood Police note that they did not find the vehicle in Westwood.
Friday, August 14
Police in Rhode Island Encounter Man with Westwood Ties
12:35 a.m. Police received a call from the Portsmouth Police Department in Rhode Island regarding an elderly man who either resides in Westwood or has Westwood ties. He had stopped in Portsmouth and appeared to be confused. Westwood Police were unable to rouse anyone at the Westwood address. The man was taken to a hospital in Newport, Rhode Island.
Police Caution Teens after Conservation Land Trees Downed, Fire Left Unattended
2:41 p.m. Police received a subsequent report of an ongoing disturbance in the woods behind Pine Hills School on Gay Street. The caller on this date reported observing two youths bringing supplies into the woods.
Previously, on August 3, an individual was walking in the woods near Pine Hills School and discovered an unattended fire. The individual reported the discovery, and police say the fire was extinguished by Westwood Fire Department.
At the site of the fire, police discovered a cleared area where approximately 10 to 12 small, 3-to 4-inch-diameter trees had been cut down to clear a round area described as about 30-feet in diameter. The cut trees had been used to erect a makeshift fence to screen the cleared area from walkers using the path through the woods.
In the cleared area was a hand-painted sign, with the words, “The Wood.” Beer bottle caps affixed to boards and street signs decorated the cleared area. A trash bag held empty alcohol cans. There was no tent nor sleeping bag to indicate overnight camping. Police believe that two 17-year-old youths were using the area as their hangout.
Police say the youths began clearing the area during the first weekend of August. The youths reportedly left the fire unattended on August 2, before the passerby found it on August 3, and it was extinguished.
On August 14, police encountered the two teenagers at the site and spoke with them. Police expressed concerns about cutting down trees on conservation land, building a fire without a permit, leaving a fire unattended, and the possibility that the youths may have violated criminal statutes. Police advised the teens to clean up the area, remove their building materials, and cease using the area as a hangout.
On August 16, police returned to the site and discovered that it had been cleaned up as advised.
Thursday, August 13
Early Morning Argument
1:30 a.m. Police responded to a report of suspicious activity on Hampton Road. A male from Medway and a female from Westwood reported having an argument. The Medway resident was refusing to drive the Westwood resident home.
Police drove the Westwood resident to the police station so she could make arrangements to get home.
Report of being chased after an assault
6:08 p.m. Police received a report that a female had been assaulted on a train, and that after exiting the train, she was being chased on University Avenue by a male. Police responded to the area of the Route 128 station on University Avenue but did not see any individuals matching the description.
Reckless Driver
10:37 p.m. Police received a report that someone was driving recklessly on Hale Education property, after moving cones that had been placed on Carby Street to stop vehicle traffic from entering. The suspect reportedly had left before police arrived.
Wednesday, August 12
Teens Sent Home at Early Morning Hour
1:19 a.m. An officer on patrol came across a black Audi A6 on High Rock Street, and observed one male and five females quickly enter the vehicle upon police approaching. The officer observed evidence of alcoholic beverages in the area. The officer learned that four of the females were from Millis, Bellingham, and Uxbridge. Four were 15-years-old and one was 17-years-old. They apparently had informed their driver, a Walpole resident whom they had met on Snapchat, that they were over 18 years of age. The parents of the girls were contacted, and one of their mothers arrived to take custody of all five girls.
Pedestrian “Clipped” by Vehicle Attempting to Pass Stopped Car
8:45 a.m. Police responded to the intersection of High and Mill streets where a pedestrian reported being clipped by a car. The officer learned that while one vehicle had stopped on High Street to take a left turn onto Mill Street, the driver of the trailing vehicle attempted to go around the stopped car, and as a result, “clipped” the pedestrian who was just stepping into the crosswalk. No major injuries were reported but the pedestrian – a Westwood resident - was transported to the hospital for an evaluation. Police cited the driver of the trailing Toyota RAV4 – a resident of Franklin - for a crosswalk violation.
Mower Throws Projectile at Passing Car
9:22 a.m. Westwood Department of Public Works reported that, as a worker was mowing on Canton Terrace, an object was thrown out from under the mower and struck a passing 2016 Honda Fit. The car was being driven by a Taunton resident. The object damaged the car’s passenger side window. No injuries were reported.
Illegal dumping
2:09 p.m. A company reported an ongoing issue with illegal dumping into the company’s dumpster on High Street.
Tuesday, August 11
Single-Vehicle Crash into Tree
11:55 p.m. Police received a report of a single-vehicle crash on Gay Street. A white Toyota Tacoma crossed the yellow line and hit a tree and rock wall on the opposite side of the road. The driver, a resident of Norwood, appeared uninjured. Police cited the man for a marked lanes violation.
Monday, August 10
Resident Provides Detail on Past Assault Claim
4:46 p.m. A resident of Bay Colony Drive, who on August 8 reported to police that he was assaulted at a friend’s home on Fisher Street, provided further information about his complaint. He told police that a dispute began over how to handle a bill at the Yard House restaurant in Dedham. According to the resident, he believed the dispute had been resolved, but it began again with a group of other guests at the friend’s home. He reported that aggressive pushing back-and-forth led to his being assaulted by the other parties, after which he left the home.
Suspect Flees after Being Confronted for Shoplifting
4:24 p.m. Police received a report from Wegmans supermarket on University Avenue that a shoplifting suspect was fleeing on foot from the store. Store staff described the suspect as a bald man, approximately 30 years old, with a mustache and wearing a Hawaiian shirt, grey or green shorts, and flip flops. He was reportedly observed transferring store merchandise from a shopping cart into a reusable bag. While paying $46 for merchandise, he failed to pay for alcohol and food valued at $458. Upon being confronted, the suspect reportedly abandoned the merchandise, ran across the parking lot, jumped over a wall, and ran across to the other side of University Avenue.
Thanks to Detective Lieutenant Christopher Aylward and Westwood Police Department for sharing information for this Westwood Minute article.
