Wellesley Police log: $15K lottery scam; fake $100; drivers blame metal plates for tire damage; another bike swiped, but recovered

Wellesley, Mass., police log for the week of Oct. 7-11:

Arrests

On October 9, 2019 at 2:50 p.m. Officer Shore was conducting traffic enforcement on Wellesley Avenue when he observed an Infinti sedan which he had previously stopped on October 4^th for motor vehicle violations.  He stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator, and requested his license and registration.  A query of his information showed that his license was suspended.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and released on $250 bail.

On October 9, 2019 at 6:51 p.m. Officer Griffin was on patrol on Worcester Street near Standish Road when he observed a Chevrolet pickup truck that was weaving within its lane of travel and the driver’s side tires crossed over the yellow line.  Officer Griffin stopped the vehicle and spoke with the operator,  and noticed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverages emanating from the vehicle and the operator’s person.  He also noticed that the driver’s eyes were blood shot, his eyes lids were droopy and his speech was slurred.  Officer Griffin asked for his identification and the driver indicated he did not have a driver’s license.  He was provided the opportunity to take some reasonable tests of balance and coordination to determine if he was able to safely operate a motor vehicle.  He was unable to successfully pass these tests.  He was taken into custody, transported to the station and afforded all rights.  He refused to complete the booking process and was ordered held without bail until he completed the booking process after which he was transported to Dedham District Court.

Incidents

On October 7, 2019 at 1:58 p.m. Officer Harris spoke with a female reporting party about possible check fraud.  She stated that she was notified that a check she had mailed in September had not arrived at its destination.  She realized that the check was initially written in the amount of $179.88 and when it was cashed by an unknown individual it was made out in the amount of $4,924.03. The reporting party had mailed the check to the intended recipient in early September.  The incident is under investigation.

On October 7, 2019 at 4:46 p.m. Officer Wall spoke with a reporting party from a business on Weston Road who stated that he received a notification that his credit card had been used a short while before.  The reporting party was reviewing the security footage with the business owner when Officer Wall arrived.  The security footage showed a male party enter the store at approximately 3:59 p.m. wearing a white and black baseball cap, grey zip up hooded sweatshirts, sunglasses, jeans and holding a brown backpack.   The owner of the credit card stated having last had the credit card in possession about one week prior and sometimes leaves a wallet in a vehicle with the vehicle unlocked so it is unknown when or where the credit card may have been taken.  Officer Wall is investigating

On October 8, 2019 at 9:08 a.m. Officer Harris was dispatched to the Worcester Street at Westminster Circle for a report of a vehicle with two flat tires.  He spoke with a male reporting party who stated the metal plates on

Worcester Street near Bancroft Road had caused the damage to the tires.  The utility company working on Worcester Street was notified that the plates had shifted.  Later in the day a second reporting party came to the police station to report 3 of his tires had been damaged by the same metal plates in the roadway.  Both individuals were provided with the contractor’s information so they could request reimbursement for the damage to their vehicles.

On October 8, 2019 at 8:30 p.m. Officer Pino was dispatched to a residence to take possession of two firearms from the resident.  Officer Pino took possession of the firearms and returned them to the police station where they will be held for safekeeping.

On October 10, 2019 at 4:35 p.m. Officer DiCenso spoke to a female reporting party about a bicycle that was stolen from her garage that afternoon by a young man.  She had just purchased the bicycle that day for her daughter and a neighbor informed her that she saw a young man enter the garage and remove the bicycle.  Officer DiCenso spoke to the neighbors and was able to identify the two young males involved.  The male party that took the bicycle admitted to his mother that he had taken it when Officer DiCenso arrived at their residence.  The male party brought Officer DiCenso to where he had put the bicycle and it was returned to the owner. 

On October 10, 2019 at 2:05 p.m. Officer Gover spoke with a female party who stated she believed she was scammed out of $15,000 for a lottery scam.  The reporting party stated she received a flyer stating she had won Mega Millions and she needed to contact someone named James Jackson to claim her winnings.  She contacted James and was advised she had to first pay the taxes and fees associated with the winnings and as soon as her check was cleared she would receive her winnings.  On October 5^th she sent a check for $15,000.  The check was cashed by someone in Natick and then funds were withdrawn by that individual and mailed to an unknown individual.  It appears the female party that cashed the checked was also a victim of a scam.  Officer Gover spoke with a family member and advised them of the scam and suggested that they put some sort of alert on the bank account in case a large amount of funds are withdrawn in the future. 

On October 11, 2019 at 9:51 a.m. Officer Cunningham spoke with an employee from a business on Central Street regarding a counterfeit $100 bill that was passed the previous evening.  The fraudulent currency was rejected by the store’s bank.  At 11:39 a.m. Officer Cunningham was dispatched to another store on Central Street for a counterfeit $100 bill that had been passed on October 10^th at 7:00 p.m.  The description of the male party who passed the bill was the same.   A teen aged male party with dark skin, thin in build.  Officer Cunningham notified the US. Secret Service Boston Field Office and they requested that the fraudulent currency be sent to their office.  There were another 2 reports by businesses on Central Street of counterfeit $100 bills being used to make a small purchase.

On October 11, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Officer Griffin was dispatched to a residence for a well-being check for an elderly female party who had not been seen in a few days and mail was piling up.  The female party had fallen in the residence and was unable to get up on her own.  Officer Griffin learned that she does not have any outside services to assist her.  He notified her Health Care Proxy and contacted Springwell Elder Services so they can evaluate and see if there are services they can provide for her.

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More: Past Wellesley Police logs