In the past five weeks, police made 76 motor vehicle stops, resulting in 17 verbal warnings, 41 written warnings, and 18 civil citations, which carry a fine. They responded to 13 false burglar alarms, six calls about disabled vehicles, and three requests for help from people locked out of their cars. Police made three well-being checks, performed one mental health evaluation, and issued or renewed one firearm permit. They also received 25 calls about fallen trees, branches, wires, or other hazards on local roads. Several callers reported loose dogs, and one sought help with a bat in the house.
The Ambulance Service responded to 51 calls and transported 26 patients to the hospital, eight with Advanced Life Support services on board. There were 11 motor vehicle accidents and eight lift assists.
Wednesday, July 5
At 12:45 p.m. a 911 caller reported someone going through a dumpster at an Ayer Road apartment building; police determined the person—an evicted tenant—was doing nothing wrong. At 1:52 p.m. someone called 911 about a snapping turtle on South Shaker Road; the animal control officer warned against touching it. At 9:45 p.m. a power outage was reported on Ayer Road.
Thursday, July 6
At 8:54 a.m. an Ayer Road resident told police a potted Japanese maple tree worth $245 had been stolen from an outdoor area.
Friday, July 7
At 2:43 p.m. a federal official asked Harvard police to stop three boys who were jumping into the Nashua River off the bridge near Still River Depot Road.
Saturday, July 8
At 8:20 p.m. a Myrick Lane resident reported hearing several gunshots and suspected people were hunting in nearby woods; however, police did not find anyone in the area.
Sunday, July 9
At 8:54 p.m. someone on East Bare Hill Road called police after hearing yelling outside, followed by the sound of something hitting the house. Police checked the area, but the noisemakers had driven away.
Monday, July 10
At 9:57 p.m. Harvard police backed up Boxborough officers who were responding to a report of suspected drug use in a vehicle on Sholan Circle.
Tuesday, July 11
At 5:38 p.m. police referred an Ayer Road resident to a computer security firm for help in dealing with some suspicious emails that seemed to be rerouting money through the resident’s account.
Wednesday, July 12
At 9:50 a.m. a Poor Farm Road resident called about some damage that had occurred to the front of his house over the weekend. At 6:49 p.m. a caller said the driver of a passing car had stopped to put trash in the resident’s bin but had removed it when the resident confronted her. At 8:34 p.m. police charged a 16-year-old driver with speeding, failing to stop for police, negligent operation, and violating the terms of a learner’s permit. The teen had driven away after the officer turned on the cruiser’s flashers on Prospect Hill Road, and the officer followed her to Elm Street. A 16-year-old passenger was also charged, as it is a violation for a person under 18 to ride with a driver on a learner’s permit.
Friday, July 14
At 12:15 p.m. a power outage took place on Littleton County Road. At 12:25 p.m. a Scott Road resident reported someone had filed a fraudulent unemployment claim in the resident’s name. At 4:11 p.m. a driver reported hitting a deer on Old Shirley Road. At 11:50 p.m. a Finn Road resident called 911 about online harassment. Police suggested blocking the negative commenter or cutting back on social media.
Monday, July 17
At 4:11 p.m. on Poor Farm Road an officer issued a summons to a 32-year-old Boxborough resident for speeding and driving without a license. At 6:13 p.m. a 30-year-old Leominster man received a summons for the same offenses after being stopped on Route 2 westbound.
Wednesday, July 19
At 1:17 p.m. a caller reported seeing a large animal carcass, possibly a bear, at the side of Warren Avenue; the DPW was notified. At 4:52 p.m. Harvard and Ayer police both responded to a three-car crash at the town line on Ayer Road.
Thursday, July 20
At 9:28 p.m. a 911 caller told police a car had gone off Ayer Road and into the bushes; no one was injured, but the car was towed.
Sunday, July 23
At 1:03 p.m. Berlin police were concerned a missing woman might attempt suicide, and they requested help from the Harvard drone team in finding her; however, the request was canceled after the woman was quickly located.
Monday, July 24
At 2 p.m. an Ayer Road resident called to say his email account had been hacked with a ransomware attack; police recommended technical help to deal with the attack.
Saturday, July 29
At 7:07 p.m. a 911 caller reported a car had struck a utility pole near the intersection of Willard Lane and Still River Road; no one was injured, and National Grid was notified.
Tuesday, Aug. 1
At 11:47 p.m. someone called 911 from a Boxborough number but then hung up. When Harvard police called back, a child answered and shouting was audible in the background. Boxborough police were alerted.
Wednesday, Aug. 2
At 9:06 a.m. a South Shaker Road resident reported a case of identity theft. At 9:58 a.m. Harvard police were asked to transport a 65-year-old Groton resident to court under a warrant in a substance abuse case.
Thursday, Aug. 3
At 12:55 a.m. an officer saw a parked car with its lights on near Bare Hill Pond; the car was empty, as the occupants apparently ran into the woods, police say. At 11:19 p.m. Littleton police asked Harvard officers to watch for a car with heavy front-end damage. The vehicle had left the scene of a crash in Littleton headed for Harvard, but a search of the Littleton Road area turned up nothing.
Saturday, Aug. 5
At 10:12 a.m. a caller told police a motion-activated camera set up in the Shaker cemetery had been stolen.
Sunday, Aug. 6
At 11:06 a.m. a caller said a driver involved in a minor collision on Ayer Road had left the scene. At 7:02 p.m. someone reported hearing a lot of yelling near the Prospect Hill Road overlook, but all was quiet when police checked the area.
Monday, Aug. 7
At 9:39 p.m. an Ayer Road resident called 911 when five youths ran through the resident’s yard, jumped in the swimming pool, and then ran off; police have checked the surveillance camera footage.
The police log is written by a Harvard Press reporter based on information gleaned from daily police logs and interviews with police staff. Decisions to publish or withhold the names of people arrested will be based on our need to balance the privacy of individuals with our responsibility to report news of significance.
