This week police made 45 motor vehicle stops, which resulted in 20 citations or written warnings, 24 verbal warnings, and one arrest.
Tuesday, March 18
Someone from the highway department called at 7:55 a.m. to report that an unoccupied car had been parked at the Transfer Station overnight. Police investigated and found that it was a disabled vehicle left there by a Transfer Station volunteer until it could be retrieved. At 12:08 p.m. the fire chief was called to Gokey and Quinn on Ayer Road to investigate a reported leak from an underground storage tank that was being removed. A Stow Road resident called at 5:59 p.m. to report that someone kept ringing the doorbell, but when he went to answer it, there was no one there. Police say this also happened last week and speculate that it might be attributable to a faulty doorbell. A Still River Road resident flagged down a police car at 7:14 p.m. to report that a white van had entered an elderly neighbor’s driveway. Police spoke to the neighbor and determined there was no cause for concern. At 8:30 p.m. a caller reported a dangerous situation on West Bare Hill Road, where some people were walking in the roadway with only a small light to illuminate the way. Emergency personnel were called to a medical emergency on Babbitt Lane at 11:29 p.m. The ambulance transported a man to Emerson Hospital with an Advanced Life Support paramedic on board.
Wednesday, March 19
A caller reported at 12:10 p.m. that a Charter truck was parked in a bad location on Ayer Road. Police assisted with traffic control at the scene until the Charter workers had finished their work. A person was taken by ambulance to Nashoba Valley Medical Center from an Ayer Road residence after emergency personnel responded to a call there at 4:03 p.m. At 6:04 p.m. a caller reported a car being driven erratically on Bolton Road. Police checked the area but did not locate the vehicle. A caller reported at 10:30 p.m. that there were icy conditions on several Harvard roads. Police notified state and Harvard highway departments.
Thursday, March 20
An officer on patrol at 2:59 a.m. discovered a tree limb on West Bare Hill Road and removed it. State police requested the assistance of emergency responders at a traffic stop on Route 2 at 6:58 a.m.; the Harvard ambulance took one person to Nashoba Valley Medical Center. At 12:25 p.m. a fire alarm at Bromfield sent students outside until the cause for the alarm could be investigated by fire officers. Police say the alarm was triggered in the faculty restroom; fire officers suspect it was set off by aerosol spray. The alarm was reset and students re-entered 10 minutes later. An Ayer Road resident called at 1:23 p.m. and again at 2:32 p.m. to report receiving harassing phone calls. Police say the calls were part of a scam, and advised the caller to report them to the phone company. Ayer police called at 11:20 p.m. to advise Harvard officers to be on the lookout for a certain vehicle. The car was eventually located by Ayer police.
Friday, March 21
At 1:29 a.m. an officer stopped to investigate a train that was idling at the railroad bridge on Still River Depot Road. Police say the conductor was waiting for a new crew to arrive. At 10:29 a.m. police stopped a car on Massachusetts Avenue, near the Boxborough town line, for failure to stay within marked lanes, and cited the driver for that offense and for texting while driving. Police called for ambulance support after the driver became ill during the stop. The Boxborough ambulance took the man to Emerson Hospital.
Saturday, March 22
An officer stopped a car on Ayer Road at 10:22 a.m., after a license plate check revealed the vehicle was not registered. The driver was cited for that offense; the car was towed. At 12:58 p.m. a caller reported a stop sign missing on Ann Lees Road. Police notified DPW. An Oak Hill Road resident called at 8:27 p.m. to report a harassing phone call. Police advised the caller of available options. Someone called at 9:41 p.m. to report a light flashing behind the elementary school. Police say the light was related to the sewage treatment plant there; they contacted the company responsible for plant maintenance. At 10:06 p.m. a caller reported a car being driven erratically on Lancaster County Road. Police investigated and found that the car in question was just being driven very slowly.
Sunday, March 23
An officer on patrol stopped to investigate an open garage door on Lancaster County Road at 3:45 a.m., but found there was no problem. Someone reported a dead animal in the roadway on Littleton County Road at 6:48 a.m. Police notified the animal control officer. At 12:22 p.m. a Slough Road resident reported that smoke from a neighbor’s brush fire was filling her home. Fire officers responded and asked the neighbor to extinguish the blaze. Someone called at 1 p.m. to report seeing three men dressed in camouflage exit a car parked on Poor Farm Road and enter the woods near the Route 2 overpass, possibly hunting. Police checked the area, but did not locate the car or the men. At 5:59 p.m. a Harvard resident reported being the victim of identity theft. An officer on patrol on Massachusetts Ave. stopped a car at 6:55 p.m., after a license plate check showed an outstanding arrest warrant on the driver. Police arrested Lincoln D. MacDonald, 51, of Bolton Road, who had been charged with failure to appear at Marlborough District Court. He was later released on bail, pending his court appearance.
Monday, March 24
At 7:06 a.m. a caller reported that a large truck trying to turn into a driveway on Ayer Road was stuck. Police went to the scene and helped guide the truck out of the predicament. At 9:01 p.m. a Willard Lane resident called to report that someone had placed a dead bird in the mailbox.
