In the past week, police made 15 motor vehicle stops, four resulting in verbal warnings and 11 in written warnings or citations. Officers also checked on three disabled motor vehicles, helped one person locked out of a vehicle, and responded to two false burglar alarms.
Tuesday, March 3
At 9:43 a.m. a resident came to the police station to report an attempted theft. At 10: 47 a.m. a student called with suspicions about a person in the school parking lot. At 12:52 p.m. a Stow Road resident said someone had pulled into her driveway, taken a photo of her house, and then left. Starting about 3 p.m., the wintry mix of snow and freezing rain set off a spate of crashes around town. By 4:30 p.m., police had received reports of six crashes—one each on Pond Road, Oak Hill Road, and Still River Road, and three on Ayer Road. No one was injured in any of the crashes, but at least one car became stuck in a snowbank and required a tow. At 6:17 p.m. a caller from Oak Hill Road reported cars were still slipping and sliding there. And at 7:50 p.m. another car skidded off the road near the intersection of Still River and Prospect Hill roads.
Wednesday, March 4
At 7:09 a.m. a 911 caller said his car was stuck on the ice on Old Schoolhouse Road. At 2:06 p.m. an Ann Lees Road resident who had just filed for divorce called to report being harassed by their spouse. At 4:13 p.m. someone reported a tree limb and wire down on Still River Depot Road. At 4:32 p.m. a 911 caller on Still River Road reported damage to a car parked in his driveway, possibly by a delivery truck.
Thursday, March 5
At 4:03 p.m. a 911 caller told police a tractor-trailer truck was driving erratically on Ayer Road. At 6:10 p.m. another 911 caller said a car had run several stop signs on Oak Hill Road, then continued into Boxborough. A Harvard officer searched the area and Boxborough police were alerted, but the car was not located. At 7:34 p.m. a South Shaker Road caller expressed concerns that their business might have been “swatted”—that is, police might have been given a false report of a dangerous situation there. At 11:57 p.m. a 911 caller reported a car had hit a utility pole near the intersection of Ayer Road and Myrick Lane. Police said the driver, a 52-year-old Shirley resident, was uninjured but highly intoxicated. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, marked lanes violations, and negligent operation of a vehicle.
Friday, March 6
At 8:35 a.m. the man who had been taken into custody for drunk driving the night before was transported to court in Clinton. At 3:21 p.m. there was a minor two-car collision on Bolton Road; no one was injured.
Saturday, March 7
At 12:55 a.m. the Department of Public Works was notified that roads throughout town were becoming slick. At 3:59 a.m. a car struck a tree near Mass. Ave. and the vehicle required a tow. At 4:43 a.m. a Bolton Road resident called 911 with suspicions about a dark-colored SUV in the neighborhood, but the police found nothing amiss. At 1:52 p.m. a 911 caller reported seeing a FedEx truck hit a pickup on Craggs Road and then drive off. Shortly thereafter, the owner of the pickup also reported the FedEx hit-and-run. At 2:31 p.m. someone came to the police station with concerns about an elderly woman who was hitchhiking; police were not able to locate her.
Sunday, March 8
Nothing significant to report.
Monday, March 9
At 1:09 a.m. a 911 caller expressed suspicions about a car that had been parked on Depot Road for several hours. Police found the person had a telescope and was stargazing. At 9:24 p.m. a car hit a deer on Still River Road.
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.