This week police made four motor vehicle stops, which resulted in two written warnings and two verbal warnings. They were called to the town beach three times to investigate parking complaints. The Harvard ambulance responded to nine emergency calls and took two people to Nashoba Valley Medical Center, three to Emerson Hospital, and one to UMass in Worcester. Three refused treatment.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
At 7:04 a.m. a caller reported someone sleeping in a car parked at Dunkin’ Donuts. The car was gone when an officer arrived to investigate. State police asked for the assistance of the Harvard ambulance crew and Fire Department at the scene of a single-car accident on Route 2. One person was injured but refused transport to the hospital; no fire support was needed. The car was towed. Someone called at 5:48 p.m. to notify police that a car would be parked on Under Pin Hill Road overnight. A person stopped at the station at 6:01 p.m. to report having had an accident on the Route 2 on-ramp. The person was advised to notify State Police, who have jurisdiction in that area.
Wednesday, Aug. 27
At 1:19 p.m. a Simon Atherton Row resident called to report that her car had been damaged by a pothole in the road. An officer went to the home and inspected the vehicle but did not see any obvious damage to the wheel well. He advised the resident to contact the director of the Department of Public Works to discuss any potential reimbursement. At 6:07 p.m. a Poor Farm Road resident called to notify police that a push-style lawnmower had been stolen from the front yard.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Someone called at 9:20 a.m. to request a radar presence in the area of West Bare Hill and Scott roads because of speeding cars. Police were called to the scene of a two-car accident at Pizza Bella at 2:29 p.m. Police say there was minor damage to one vehicle; no citations were issued. A Willow Road resident called at 3:48 p.m. to report concerns about two unfamiliar black motorcycles in the area. Police did not locate the bikes.
Friday, Aug. 29
Police were called to the scene of a single-car accident on Stow Road at 7:04 a.m. They found that a car had gone off the road and sideswiped a utility pole, then struck a tree. The driver said he had fallen asleep at the wheel. The ambulance was called, but the driver refused treatment. No citations were issued. At 8:22 a.m. someone called to report a disabled car parked at a dangerous turn on Prospect Hill Road. Police found the vehicle unoccupied and could not reach the owner so they requested a tow truck to remove it. At 8:41 a.m. an officer exiting the Dunkin’ Donuts building observed a car traveling on Ayer Road with obvious damage from an accident. He watched as the driver pulled into the Dunkin’ Donuts lot, parked in a secluded location behind the building, and started to walk away. The officer detained the man and contacted the State Police, who told him that the car in question had been involved in a hit-and-run accident on Route 2. State police arrived and arrested the man on charges of operating under the influence. The animal control officer was contacted to take custody of a dog that was in the car. At 9:01 p.m. a caller reported a suspicious-looking car in the Bromfield parking lot. The car was gone when police arrived.
Saturday, Aug. 30
An Old Littleton Road resident called at 4:29 a.m. to say that her neighbor’s horse had gotten loose. She had retrieved the horse and walked it back to its home but wanted police to notify the neighbor. Police were called to a Cross Street residence at 11:28 a.m. to settle a custody dispute. An officer went to the scene and advised the caller that the issue should be taken up with the probate court. At 1:32 p.m. a caller asked police to intervene in an argument between two neighbors on Clinton Shore Drive about a cat that was trespassing on one neighbor’s property. An officer advised the neighbors that it was a civil matter that should be referred to the neighborhood association there. Someone called at 2:17 p.m. to report finding the remnants of a fireworks display at the elementary school. Police say an empty box was found containing empty fireworks canisters and was disposed of by the responding officer. At 2:52 p.m. a woman called the station to report concerns about a website she had stumbled upon while shopping online. Detective Fortunato said that the website was a blog that appeared to be inactive, with the last entry made in 2013. Fortunato said the site did not appear to be connected to Harvard in any way. However, it contained what Fortunato characterized as alarming “key words,” such as “jihad,” “terrorists,” and “bombs,” so she reported it to the Federal Department of Homeland Security, which is investigating. At 3:22 p.m. Clinton police called to notify Harvard officers that a license plate connected with a minor hit-and-run incident in Clinton had been identified as belonging to a Harvard resident. Harvard police contacted the owner, who had been unaware that the car had struck anything and agreed to contact Clinton police about it. A resident on Old Boston Turnpike called at 9:06 p.m. to report that someone had been knocking on the door. Police went to the home to investigate but did not locate anyone.
Sunday, Aug. 31
A Prospect Hill Road resident reported at 11:05 a.m. that some construction equipment had been making noise in the area earlier that morning. Police advised the person to call them the next time it happened. At 2:23 p.m. a caller reported a burglary at a Poor Farm Road residence. (See story, page 1.) State police requested the Harvard ambulance at a two-car accident on Route 2 at 7:33 p.m. The potential patient refused treatment and transportation to the hospital.
Monday, Sept. 1
At 11:56 a.m. a resident on Old Littleton Road called to report finding a small brown-and-white dog with no collar. Police say the caller had already notified the animal control officer, so no further action was needed. A Harvard resident called at 12:48 p.m. to ask police to mediate a dispute between two people related to the exchange of some property. The parties were advised it was a civil matter. At 7:11 p.m. Shrewsbury police called to request that Harvard police arrest a Harvard man wanted in a case of domestic assault and battery in Shrewsbury. Harvard police subsequently located and arrested Nicholas D. Downing, 20, of Glenview Drive, for charges of domestic assault and battery. He was later turned over to Shrewsbury police.
