This week police made 14 traffic stops, which resulted in five citations, six verbal warnings, three summonses, and one arrest. The ambulance crew responded to three medical emergencies and took two people to the hospital, one with Advanced Life Support on board; one person refused treatment or transport to the hospital. Two people called seeking permission to have an outdoor cooking fire.
Tuesday, Sept. 1
An officer conducting a random license plate check stopped a vehicle on Ayer Road at 12:16 p.m. and issued a summons to the driver, a Harvard resident, for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, not having a license in his possession, and not having a valid inspection sticker. At 12:56 p.m. an officer on patrol stopped a car at the Route 2 ramp on Ayer Road and arrested the driver, Ryan R. Pierce, 31, of Lunenburg, for following too close, driving with a revoked license, and failing to stay within marked lanes. In addition, the officer issued a summons to the passenger, also from Lunenburg, for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle. At 4:07 p.m. someone called to alert police that his disabled vehicle would be left overnight on Depot Road, near Craggs Road, and would be moved in the morning. At 6:52 p.m. an officer stopped a car for speeding on Willard Lane and issued a summons to the driver, a Lancaster resident, for speeding, failing to stay within marked lanes, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Someone called at 7:27 a.m. to report suspicions about a white Toyota sedan parked on Ohlin Lane with two people inside, sleeping. An officer spoke to the occupants, who said they had pulled over to rest after a long drive, and asked them to move on. At 11:55 a.m. an officer on patrol stopped on Pinnacle Road to investigate a disabled car. The driver said there had been problems getting the car started but was able to start the vehicle while the officer was there. At 2:39 p.m. an officer stopped to investigate a disabled car on Ayer Road in the center of town. Police say there was a heavy smell of gasoline in the area from what appeared to be a fuel leak. The vehicle was towed. Someone called at 3:59 p.m. to report a disabled car on Lancaster County Road, but the car was gone when police arrived to investigate. An officer on patrol at 9:58 p.m. stopped to investigate a disabled car on Massachusetts Avenue near Bolton Road. The driver said that help was on the way.
Thursday, Sept. 3
Ayer police called at 7:50 a.m. to advise Harvard officers to look for a car headed from Ayer to Harvard, whose driver appeared to be blindfolded. Police say the car was not found in Harvard but was later located in Littleton. Bolton police called at 6:45 p.m. to alert Harvard officers to a teenage white male wearing a Hawaiian shirt who had approached a female resident on Harvard Road in Bolton and asked for money. After she refused, he walked up the road toward Harvard. Police say they were not able to locate the individual. At 7:21 p.m. a caller reported seeing a young, unattended child on the side of the road on Massachusetts Avenue, who appeared to be “out of sorts.” An officer located the child and gave the youth a ride home. A Still River Road resident called at 10:22 p.m. to report that a tenant who had recently moved out had stolen a dining room set.
Friday, Sept. 4
A caller at 7:09 a.m. reported a disabled car in a dangerous location on Poor Farm Road. The driver told the officer he had already called for help, but he did not know when that help was due to arrive, so the officer ordered the vehicle towed. A West Bare Hill Road resident called to report finding a dog in the roadway and asked for police assistance in reading the tags on the dog’s collar. Once the owner was identified, the caller returned the animal home.
Saturday, Sept. 5
An officer on patrol at 12:55 a.m. stopped to investigate a 15-year-old who appeared to be loitering behind the high school. The officer contacted the youth’s parents. Ayer police called at 6:30 p.m. requesting backup from Harvard officers in responding to a domestic situation in Ayer.
Sunday, Sept. 6
An officer on patrol at 5:41 p.m. stopped to investigate some unoccupied cars parked at the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. The officer located the owners and advised them that the refuge was closed for the evening. An officer on patrol at 11 p.m. stopped to investigate a Cadillac Escalade being driven in the grass at Fruitlands Museum and asked the driver to leave.
Monday, Sept. 7
A Park Lane resident called at 6:01 a.m. to report suspicions about a car parked at the end of the cul-de-sac. Police say the person thought it was a “strange place to park a vehicle at that time of day.” The car was gone when police arrived to investigate. Ayer police called at 4:21 p.m. seeking assistance from Harvard officers in locating a Harvard resident who lived on Old Shirley Road. An officer went to the residence, but the person in question was not there. At 6:23 p.m. a caller reported ducks and chickens in the roadway on Stow Road. The animals were out of the road by the time police arrived. At 7:46 p.m. someone called to report two cars with juveniles driving on the Depot Road soccer fields. An officer went to the scene and spoke to the youths, advising them that if they caused damage, criminal charges would be filed.
