Police Log: Suspicious Driver Offers Money to Child and Other Stories

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The news described in Westwood Minute’s Police Log article is primarily based on selected information from the Westwood Police Department’s daily log and information provided by Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and police staff. Occasionally, a few facts from other sources may be woven into these reports.

Shootings are unusual around Westwood, but Norwood Police recently called on Westwood Police for assistance in such a case involving multiple gunshots on Sunday, September 19, 2021. One day later, that case has become a homicide.  The case is described briefly below and in more detail in another article, here. 

Monday, September 13th

ebay spoofer requests gift cards

10:21 a.m. A resident of Stoneham reported that after inadvertently clicking on a website that was spoofing ebay, he was contacted by a party who convinced him that he was responsible for $5,500 worth of ebay items.  The party told him that he should pay the entire sum by gift cards. 

The Stoneham man purchased the gift cards from Target and Wegmans in Westwood. Following the purchase, the Stoneham resident learned that someone in Delhi, India had hacked his ebay account. He stopped his transactions with the spoofer and was able to avoid any monetary loss.

Calling on the K-9

9:34 p.m. Norwood Police requested assistance from Westwood’s K-9 officer in response to a domestic incident. A man had fled the scene. The K-9 officer attempted to track the man, but was unable to find him.

Tuesday, September 14th

Westwood resident charged with second offense OUI

9:47 a.m. A Westwood Police shift sergeant was supervising a detail for road construction on Providence Highway/Route 1A when he observed a vehicle traveling north on a southbound lane. The silver Chevy pickup truck was headed toward Dedham from Norwood. 

The sergeant flashed his emergency lights, but the pickup truck failed to stop. The officer pursued the vehicle and Westwood Police dispatch alerted Dedham Police. 

The pickup truck turned into the CVS parking lot at the corner of Elm Street and Route 1A in Dedham, driving over a concrete divider before stopping.

The Westwood Police sergeant administered field sobriety test, and determined the driver, a 40 year-old man residing on Washington Street in Westwood, was under the influence. The driver was arrested and taken to the Westwood Police Station. He was issued a citation for three offenses – OUI liquor (2nd offense), operating negligently and driving the wrong way on a state highway. 

Bail was set at $240 bail but was unpaid. After a 6:20 a.m. breakfast, the man was transported tat 8:30 a.m. to Dedham District Court for arraignment.

Missing jewelry worth $10,000

2:03 p.m. A resident of Weatherbee Drive reported to police that three precious metal rings worth a total of approximately $10,000 were missing from the resident’s home, most likely from the date of September 3, 2021. On that date, the resident reported having house cleaners inside the home. The case was forwarded to detectives for follow-up.

OUI with a Suspended License

4:57 p.m. A patrol officer watched a black Dodge Durango maneuver aggressively and closely to other cars as it changed lanes while traveling north on Providence Highway/Route 1A. The officer clocked the Durango at 72 m.p.h. in a 50 m.p.h. zone. Stopping the driver on Route 1A and Carroll Avenue, the officer discovered that the driver’s license was suspended for an OUI. The 48 year-old woman from Norton was arrested and received a citation for a marked lanes violation, speeding, and operating a vehicle on a suspended license for OUI. Bail was set at $190. It was paid by a family member and she was released at 7:27 p.m.

Wednesday, September 15th

When is an oil leak such a big deal?

10:26 a.m. A Westwood woman reported a suspicious encounter in the parking lot of Lifetime Fitness on September 13, 2021. The resident told police that while making a phone all, she pulled into the parking lot at 6 p.m. 

A man approached her, very animated, and claimed to have spotted an oil leak under her car. She described the man to police as a fit, white man around 5’ 10” to 6’ tall, with scruffy hair and some facial hair or a five o-clock shadow. The man asked her to unlock the hood and rev the engine, which she did. He then approached her driver’s door and asked if he could rev the engine, which she allowed him to do. 

Becoming uncomfortable, the woman told him she would have her husband look into it.  She proceeded to drive away, taking note of the license plate of a car which appeared to belong to him. 

The investigating officer obtained a photo of person associated with the license plate, a Quincy resident, who appeared similar to the man she had described. The police officer’s attempts to make telephone contact with him have been unsuccessful. Westwood Police will be keeping an eye out for this individual.

Opportunity and access?

2:02 p.m. A Crystal Hill Terrace resident reported jewelry and silverware going missing over a prolonged period of time. The resident has had long-term health and domestic help in the home. A detective is investigating.

Friday, September 17th

Catering to Kid with Cash

4:03 p.m. Police responded to a report of suspicious activity in front of a home on Circuit Road. A man driving a silver, two-door hatchback stopped in front of a 9 year-old child and offered the child three dollars. The car drove away, reportedly when the driver noticed an adult observing the conversation. Adult witnesses described the driver as a white male with no facial hair, in his twenties. They believe the car was a gray Honda Civic, and gave police a potential license plate number.

With the license plate information and description of car, police dispatch linked the incident to a vehicle owned by a 21 year-old Norwood resident. Police constructed a photo array including a picture of that individual and presented it to the child. The child immediately identified the same Norwood resident as the driver of the car. 

Police contacted the man who told them that he had just finished a large catering job, got a big tip, and felt like sharing it. He had pulled into Circuit Road to get his bearings. Police report that the Circuit Road resident was satisfied that the driver had been identified.

Sunday, September 19th

Gun Shots Cause Injury in Norwood

5:20 p.m. Norwood Police contacted Westwood Police for assistance with a shooting in Norwood on Sturtevant Avenue. An individual had been shot multiple times. Westwood Police’s K-9 officer responded to the call.  More details on this story are available here.

Shoplifting at Wegmans

6:39 p.m. Police received a report from a loss prevention agent at Wegmans of a past larceny from the store. The loss prevention agent informed police that a middle aged woman was seen leaving the store carrying two bags without paying. She drove away in a brown Mini Cooper. The loss prevention agent provided the license plate to police, along with a photo of the shoplifter from the store camera. Wegmans estimates approximately $100 worth of items was stolen. The store is working on compiling a list of specific items for police.

Thanks to Lieutenant Christopher Sheehy and the Westwood Police Department for contributing information for this article.