Last week’s historic blizzard kept police busy answering calls about vehicles stuck in the snow and roads in need of plowing. This week they also made two motor vehicle stops, which resulted in one citation and one verbal warning. The Harvard ambulance responded to six emergency calls and took five people to the hospital; one person refused treatment and/or transportation to the hospital.
Monday, Jan. 26
An officer on patrol at 12:55 a.m. noticed fresh footprints in the snow outside the Oak Ridge Observatory and called for backup. The two officers investigated the area and found damage to a window, but they were unable to determine if the damage was recent or from vandalism reported last fall. They followed the footprints, which led to a nearby residence, and stopped to see if anyone there had seen anything suspicious. The residents told the officers that they had been snowshoeing at the observatory. The officers informed them that snowshoeing is not allowed there, since it is private property. An officer on patrol at 3:38 p.m. noticed a stop sign knocked over at the intersection of Old Schoolhouse and Old Littleton roads and notified the Department of Public Works.
Tuesday, Jan. 27
Someone called at 11:29 a.m. to report a dog running loose on Shaker Road. Police did not locate the animal. A Willow Road resident called at 3:07 p.m. to report a small branch resting on some wires in the area. Police said there was no immediate cause for concern, but National Grid was notified to correct the situation. A caller reported at 3:14 p.m. that a car was stuck in the snow on Prospect Hill Road. The responding officer found that the car was partially in a driveway and called a tow truck to winch it out. An officer on patrol at 6:23 p.m. found a car stuck on Whitney Lane; the driver was able to free it without assistance. A Deerfoot Trail resident called at 7:12 p.m. to ask that the DPW clear the road.
Wednesday, Jan. 28
At 6:32 a.m. a Whitney Road resident called to request some snow removal; the DPW was notified. Someone called at 11:35 a.m. to report a car stuck in a snow bank on Westcott Road. The owner was able to free the car. At 1:12 p.m. an emergency call came in from someone whose car was stuck on Oak Hill Road. Police called a tow truck to winch it out and then called the DPW to clear snow that had gone into the roadway. At 1:55 p.m. police received an emergency call about an assault at a residence on Ayer Road. Police investigated and subsequently issued a summons to one man on two counts of assault and battery on an elderly person. At 1:59 p.m. someone called about a car stuck on Poor Farm Road. Police called a tow truck to winch it out. At 4:47 p.m. a caller reported six cars off the road on Oak Hill Road. None was damaged, and all were freed by their drivers without further assistance. At 5:11 p.m. a caller reported that Old Mill Road was almost impassable from the snow. The DPW was notified to clear the road.
Thursday, Jan. 29
Someone traveling on Route 2 called at 1:10 a.m., saying that smoke appeared to be coming from the direction of Prospect Hill Road. Police investigated and found no fire but speculated that the smoke may have come from homes in the area using woodstoves. A business owner on Ayer Road called at 5:34 p.m. requesting an officer to direct traffic while some equipment was moved across the road. Someone placed an emergency call at 5:41 p.m., reporting that a person with two dogs was blocking traffic on Ayer Road near Town Hall. The responding officer found a dog owner in the process of collecting dogs that had gotten away.
Friday, Jan. 30
At 1:05 p.m. an Ayer Road resident reported smelling smoke in her garage after hearing a loud noise. A fire officer investigated and found no smoke or fire but discovered that a pipe had burst. At 3:30 p.m. a caller reported a car being driven erratically—speeding, tailgating, and running through a stop sign. Police were unable to locate the vehicle.
Saturday, Jan. 31
At 7:33 a.m. police received an emergency call about a car stuck in a snowbank on Still River Road. A tow truck was called to pull it out. Another car reported stuck in the snow on Old Littleton Road at 9:59 a.m. was eventually freed by its driver. A driver reported stuck on Still River Road at 10:02 a.m. was also able to free the car without assistance. Someone called at 11:15 a.m. asking for police assistance in unlocking a car. At 1:48 p.m. a caller reported that her son’s sled had been taken from the area on Pond Road where he’d left it briefly to go to the General Store for a snack. A witness said that someone had been seen loading it into a car and driving away. A Haskell Lane resident called at 4:32 p.m. to report receiving several annoying phone calls. At 6:31 p.m. a plow truck accidentally struck a utility pole on West Bare Hill Road. National Grid and Verizon were notified and came out to replace the pole. Someone called at 6:48 p.m. to report a car being driven erratically on Littleton Road. Police did not locate the vehicle.
Sunday, Feb. 1
At 10:24 a.m. an Oak Hill Road resident called to report that a bobcat appeared to be living under the deck of her house. The responding officer found that the animal was chasing a rabbit that had gone under the deck; both animals eventually left. Police alerted the Massachusetts Environmental Police of the incident. At 10:48 a.m. a Slough Road resident reported that the gas alarm in the kitchen had gone off and asked for a fire officer to investigate. The fire officer found no evidence of a leak.
Monday, Feb. 2
An officer on patrol at 9:15 a.m. discovered two cars stuck in the snow on East Bare Hill Road. One driver was able to free the car without assistance; the second car had to be towed. At 3:54 p.m. a caller reported that there was a section of guardrail in the breakdown lane on Route 2 eastbound before exit 38A. State police were notified. At 4:49 p.m. Harvard fire personnel were asked to assist the Ayer Fire Department with a fire at Vitasoy in Ayer. Between 5:14 and 5:18 p.m. police received four calls from people on West Bare Hill, Depot, Ayer, and South Shaker roads reporting the smell of fire in the air. Fire officers found no evidence of fires, but they speculated that the smell could have been from a fire in progress in Bolton.
