During the week, Harvard police made 20 traffic stops, of which 10 resulted in verbal warnings, seven in written warnings, and two in summonses. Officers helped two people with disabled vehicles and responded to six medical emergencies. The department also welcomed a new member, Patrolman Matt Callahan, who previously served in Ayer and brings more than 20 years of experience to Harvard. Callahan was officially introduced to the town at Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting.
Tuesday, June 12
A phone call at 11:51 a.m. alerted police to a propane truck that had lost its transmission near the corner of Warren Avenue and Tahanto Trail. The truck awaited a tow service. At 12:54 p.m. another call reported that a tractor-trailer on Fairbank Street had taken down an overhead wire; because the wire was lower than it should have been, the truck driver was not at fault. State police responded at 2:05 p.m. to an accident on Route 2 westbound, from which the Harvard ambulance took an injured person to the hospital with Advanced Life Support. At 3:42 p.m. a woman called police to report that she was being harassed by others’ comments on Nextdoor about cars speeding on her street, but police said the comments were free speech, protected by the First Amendment.
Wednesday, June 13
At 3:39 a.m. an officer checked out an unfamiliar locked vehicle in a Lancaster County Road parking lot and found nothing amiss. A caller at 8:03 a.m. reported a fireplace screen lying in the middle of South Shaker Road, and police called the DPW to remove it. At 11:18 a.m. an officer helped a driver on Ayer Road who thought his car was out of gas but found it would not start, even after he and the officer obtained some fuel; the driver decided to call a mechanic. A 911 caller reported a large turtle in the middle of Bolton Road, but it left the scene before police arrived.
Thursday, June 14
A predawn call at 4:34 a.m. added to the series of noise complaints police have received from The Elms on Stow Road. A driver on Stow Road struck a tree at 3:53 p.m. and was taken by ambulance to a hospital. Police determined that the driver should not have been at the wheel because of a medical problem and filed the paperwork to suspend her driver’s license. At 5:34 p.m. police helped a resident recover a credit card that had been accidentally left at a business. A Finn Road resident called 911 at 9:35 p.m. to report that a man he had asked to leave his property was still standing outside. The unwanted visitor told police he had no phone service and hence could not call a ride. Police drove him to an area where he could make a phone call. At 10:01 p.m. an officer radioed that the Stow Road tree that had been hit by a car a few hours earlier had fallen across the road; DPW was notified. A resident of Bowers Brook Apartments called 911 at 11:59 p.m. to report a vehicle with its motor running parked behind Dunkin’ Donuts. Police found that the driver was resting.
Friday, June 15
The day began at 12:34 a.m. with another noise complaint at The Elms. At 7:03 a.m. a Littleton County Road resident called 911 for emergency help with a baby who was choking. The dispatch officer talked the adult through the Heimlich maneuver, and the baby was soon breathing normally again. A caller from Prospect Hill Road reported a red fox acting oddly at 11:58 a.m., but police were not able to locate the animal. At 1:07 p.m. police stopped Enrique Rodriguez of Fitchburg for failure to obey a stop sign on Ayer Road and found that his license had been suspended. Police issued a summons, and the vehicle was towed. At 3:31 p.m. a driver near the town line on Ayer Road reported being forced off the road by a tractor-trailer that cut him off after passing him. The truck left the area and police were not able to locate it. A cemetery commissioner called police at 3:51 p.m. to complain that some young people were dancing around and taking pictures at the back of Bellevue Cemetery. Police checked the area and found nothing amiss. A Prospect Hill Road resident unexpectedly trapped a skunk and phoned police for advice at 5:52 p.m. Police notified the animal control officer. At 6:58 p.m. a Bolton Road resident complained about a dump truck speeding down the road.
Saturday, June 16
A Babbitt Lane resident called at 1:10 p.m. to report finding a dog he assumed was lost. The animal control officer was notified. Police received a 911 call at 4:07 p.m. reporting that a bicycle rider had fallen on Sugar Road and was bleeding from a head injury. Police alerted the ambulance squad, which took the cyclist to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. At 7:16 p.m. on Mass. Ave., police stopped Charles D. Bascome of Boston for driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle while his license was suspended. He received a summons and the vehicle was towed. At 8:57 p.m. a driver reported a dead fawn at the side of Mass. Ave., and the Department of Transportation was notified to remove it.
Sunday, June 17
A resident of Foxglove Apartments on Ayer Road reported hearing a loud bang during the night and subsequently finding the main door propped open and a door off its hinges. But the incident was not reported until 12:07 p.m., and police spoke to the resident but took no further action.
Monday, June 18
A burglar alarm went off at the Harvard Historical Society at 9:21 a.m., but police found nothing amiss. Shortly after 7 p.m. strong winds brought down a large branch on Warren Avenue and felled a tree across Under Pin Hill Road. In both cases, the DPW was notified.
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