Police | The Swellesley Report - News about Wellesley, Massachusetts

Wellesley police log: email bomb threat, online scam, firearm storage

July 21, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley, Mass., Police Log Week of 07/10/17-07/16/17 Wellesley police station

Arrests

On July 10, 2017 at 1:52 p.m. Officer Cunningham was on patrol on Worcester Street near Oak Street when he observed a grey colored BMW with a repair license plate on it that did not have the corresponding decal in the window of the vehicle. He stopped the vehicle on Hastings Street and spoke with the operator, requesting her license and registration. A query of the vehicle identification number revealed that it had been stolen in Lynn. Officer Cunningham later spoke with the owner of the vehicle who indicated he did not know the operator and did not give her permission to use the motor vehicle. She was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner, afforded all rights and later released on bail.

On July 11, 2017 at 10:20 a.m. Officer Cunningham was traveling west on Worcester Street near Cedar Street when he observed a grey Chevy pick-up truck and conducted a random query of the vehicle’s registration. The query revealed that the registration was revoked. As he was stopping the vehicle he observed that the passenger did not have a seat belt on and began putting his seat belt on. He spoke with the operator, who was not the registered owner, and the passenger and requested their identification. The passenger was uncooperative, but the operator provided information for both. A query of the passenger’s information, revealed that he had an active default warrant issued by Milford District Court for OUI liquor and other motor vehicle related offenses. He was taken into custody, transported to the station, booked in the usual manner and transported to Dedham District Court.

On July 16, 2017 at 9:40 p.m. Officer Carrasquillo was dispatched to the area of Worcester Street by Emerson Road for a report of an erratic operator who was unable to maintain a lane of travel. The vehicle was described as a Toyota Avalon. Officer Carrasquillo observed the vehicle pass his location at a high rate of speed on Worcester Street near Alhambra and [Read more…]

Wellesley police notify parents of summer custodian arrest on child porn charge

July 20, 2017 by bbrown Leave a Comment

Parents of kids taking part in programs at Bates Elementary School this summer have been notified by Wellesley Police about the arrest Thursday of a summer seasonal custodian who allegedly possessed child pornography. Wellesley Police assisted investigators from the Massachusetts State Police in executing a search warrant at a home in the Boulder Brook area of town, and state police arrested a man, who was later arraigned in Dedham District Court. The suspect was hired, after a CORI check, and began work on June 28. While employed at Bates, he was under the direct supervision of a full-time custodian at all times, and authorities say there is no indication that he has had any inappropriate contact with children.

Further questions should be directed to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Wellesley school superintendent warns families about dangerous “challenge”

July 14, 2017 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

Superintendent of Wellesley Schools, Dr. David Lussier, has sent out an email to parents warning about a deeply creepy “game” that has been making the rounds on social media for the past several months. In “The Blue Whale Challenge,” participants are encouraged to carry out a list of fifty tasks that start out with cutting, move on to desensitizing oneself to heights by, say, going to a roof and standing on the edge, and culminating in suicide. Throughout the tasks, the administrator, known as the “whale”, who does not participate in the tasks, is said to require proof through pictures and other occasional check-ins. The term blue whale comes from the phenomenon of beached whales, which is likened to suicide.

Although some reports of the challenge have been uncovered as a hoax, the family of a Texas teen says that it believes the sinister game led to its 15-year old son’s death. In addition, at least two administrators have been arrested in the past few months by police who have taken it all very seriously: an unrepentant Philipp Budeikin, 21, was arrested by Russian police earlier this spring, claiming that his victims were nothing more than biological waste and that he was simply cleansing society. In June, Ilya Sidorov, 26, a Moscow postman, was arrested in that city and reportedly told police that he had developed the “game.”

Ukraine, Portugal, Spain, Britain and France have also reported the existence of Blue Whale groups.

Here’s the letter from Supt. Lussier:

Dear Members of the Wellesley Community,

I want share information that school districts across the state have received about a dangerous social media app called, “The Blue Whale Challenge.” The Blue Whale Challenge is an app that instructs its participants (many preteens) to carry out increasingly dangerous tasks and self-harm over 50 days. Users are encouraged to tag friends on social media and ‘challenge’ them to participate in the game.

USA Today (May 25, 2017) reported on how it works – “Over the course of 50 days, an anonymous administrator assigns kids self-harm tasks. The challenges may start by asking kids to watch a scary movie and then grow increasingly dangerous to include acts like cutting. On the 50th day, the participant is supposed to commit suicide. The game can reach kids through social-media channels like Instagram, SnapChat, YouTube and texting.”

It’s very concerning because these apps are targeting a very vulnerable population. We would encourage parents to:

* ask your kids if there are ANY new games or popular challenges that they or their friends are hearing about or playing on social media or online

* search for hashtags like #BlueWhaleChallenge and/or photos of a blue whale on your kids’ social media accounts.

This message is not meant to alarm anyone, but rather to encourage parents to be proactive in protecting their children from potential negative influences on the internet.

Best regards,

David Lussier

Wellesley parks vandalized; NRC calls for vigilance by police, public

June 13, 2017 by bbrown 1 Comment

Rocky Ledges, Boulder Brook reservation, trash, Wellesley

The Wellesley Natural Resources Commission is calling on local authorities and the public to be on the lookout for acts of vandalism and disrespect across the town’s parks after a recent rash of incidents.

A wooden plaque that was part of a Wellesley High senior project celebrating nature was defaced with a swastika. In the same general area, the Rocky Ledges at Boulder Brook Reservation, a popular hangout that provides one of the best views in Wellesley, has been trashed with litter and the remains of open fires.

From the NRC: “The NRC is deeply disturbed about these incidents and the apparent lack of respect for Wellesley’s parks and conservation land showed by this behavior. Vandalism ruins the natural beauty of these areas and compromises the safety and enjoyment for visitors. It’s against the law to dump trash, grass clippings, yard debris and any other materials in any parks and conservation areas. Open fires are prohibited unless specifically permitted by the Wellesley Fire Department and the NRC, and acts of vandalism will be prosecuted.”

The public should report any incidents to [email protected] and/or the Wellesley Police Department at 781-235- 1212.

Here are the rules and regulations for Wellesley’s parks, conservation areas and playing fields.

Wellesley, state police searching for break-in suspects

June 7, 2017 by bbrown Leave a Comment

Wellesley and state police searched on the ground and from the air via helicopter for two suspects in a break-in on Falmouth Road on early Wednesday afternoon.

Fox News 25 reported that a landscaping company employee or employees saw two men running from the home and notified the homeowner, who called police. The suspects appear to have broken in through a rear window of the home.

Wellesley police tweeted about the incident early on Wednesday afternoon but had provided no update as of 9pm.