In the past week, police made eight motor vehicle stops, five resulting in verbal warnings and three in written warnings or citations. Officers also checked on four disabled motor vehicles, issued or renewed two firearms licenses, made one well-being check, and responded to six false burglar alarms.
Tuesday, Jan. 7
At 9:12 a.m. a burglar alarm went off at a Woodchuck Hill Road home; the alarm company telephoned, but the person who answered did not know the correct passcode. Police went to the house and determined that the person there was indeed the homeowner. At 10:39 a.m. a caller told police he had seen a woman’s handbag lying in a driveway along Shaker Road as he drove by; police checked at the house and returned the handbag to the woman there. At 4:10 p.m. an Oak Hill Road resident called to say her mailbox had been knocked to the ground, as had two others nearby; she had heard a car turn into her driveway Monday night and then back out. At 8:13 p.m. a 911 caller reported four horses loose on Bolton Road; the animals were returned to their barn with help from neighbors.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
At 10:27 a.m. an officer stopped a car near the Ayer Road off-ramp from Route 2 because the car did not meet safety standards. The driver—a 33-year-old Fitchburg man—was also found to be driving without a license, and he received a summons; the car was towed. At 10:36 a.m. a Cliffside Drive resident called about a dog issue in the neighborhood, and the animal control officer was notified. At 3:07 p.m. an Oak Hill Road resident reported a case of fraud. At 11:37 p.m. an Under Pin Hill Road caller asked to speak to an officer about issues with a family member.
Thursday, Jan. 9
At 12:41 p.m. someone called to report a robbery on Stow Road; see story on page 1. At 6:29 p.m. a burglar alarm went off at a Woodside Road home; it may have been set off by the family’s dog.
Friday, Jan. 10
At 8:12 a.m. someone called with suspicions about a car stopped near the intersection of West Bare Hill and Still River roads; an officer on duty was in the car. At 2:19 p.m. a Depot Road resident called for advice on dealing with a wild animal; the caller was referred to the animal control officer. At 5:23 p.m. a walker brought in a wallet found in the road; police left a message for its owner.
Saturday, Jan. 11
Starting shortly after 6 a.m., snowy conditions caused a series of vehicle accidents on Route 2 and Interstate 495. Although state police had jurisdiction, Harvard’s firefighters and ambulance crew responded to several of the crashes. At 6:32 a.m. police notified the Department of Public Works that road conditions were becoming hazardous throughout town. At 9:23 a.m. a 911 caller reported a crash on Oak Hill Road. At 2:22 p.m. an employee at Bellevue Cemetery reported a headstone had been damaged while a car was trying to back out after being stuck in the snow. At 5:29 p.m. a 911 caller asked police to do a mental health evaluation. At 6:46 p.m. there was a one-car crash on Poor Farm Road; no one was injured, but the car required a tow. At 6:56 p.m. a car slid off the road near the intersection of Willard Lane and Pine Ridge Drive; again, fortunately, no one was hurt.
Sunday, Jan. 12
At 12:28 a.m. someone on Old Shirley Road called police about an argument with a significant other. At 3:18 a.m. a young Stow Road resident called police after having a nightmare and thinking an intruder was in the house. At 7:05 a.m. a caller reported a car had hit a deer on Littleton Road; the animal was seriously injured and should be euthanized, the caller said. An officer went to the scene and dispatched the deer. At 5:10 p.m. a 911 caller told police that someone who appeared drunk and was armed with two knives was trying to get into an Ayer Road residence. Police arrested a 58-year-old Shirley man, charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping. The man was released after making bail.
Monday, Jan. 13
At 4:37 a.m. a 911 caller reported a car had slid into a guardrail on Route 2 eastbound; state police had jurisdiction. At 11:51 a.m. a Woodside Road resident told police someone was threatening her dog; police spoke with both people involved. At 3:50 p.m. an Old Littleton Road resident complained that someone from Fairbank Street was trespassing; an officer asked the Fairbank Street resident to stop cutting through the other person’s property.
The police and fire logs are written by a Press reporter based on dispatch logs and interviews with police and fire 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.
