Published in the November 7, 2016 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Two Saugus men were arrested on drug charges Friday night after police observed an apparent marijuana deal in a parking lot on Lowell Street.
The events unfolded as Officer John Whaley was in his cruiser in the parking lot of the Lakeside Inn on North Avenue. Just after 9 p.m., he observed a black Acura TL enter the lot and drive toward the hotel. After apparently seeing the police cruiser the Acura made a U-turn and started heading out of the parking lot. Off. Whaley ran a registry check and began following the car, which got on Route 128 and then exited at the Route 129 rotary. The car proceeded down Lowell Street and pulled into the parking lot of the Quick Mart convenience store at Four Corners.
Officer Whaley parked his cruiser in the area and a short time later observed a Ford Escape entering the parking lot. The driver got out and walked over to the driver’s side of the Acura, according to police. After a brief interaction, the driver of the Escape returned to his vehicle and drove off.
At that point police stopped both vehicles, and in each case detected the odor of marijuana. During a pat-down, the driver of the Acura, John Raymond, 20, of 6 Central Place, Saugus, was found to have a baggie of marijuana in his pants pocket along with $702 in cash.
The driver of the Ford Escape, Michael R. Dockery of 38 Bristol St., Saugus, was found to have two ziplock bags of marijuana in the side pocket of the driver’s door and another bag of pot between the driver’s seat and the center console. In addition, a mason jar containing marijuana was also found inside the car along with with two large vacuum-sealed bags in the trunk, each containing over a pound of marijuana.
Both men were arrested and charged with possession of over an ounce of marijuana with intent to distribute.
—–
At about 6:45 p.m. on Friday, a man went to police headquarters to report the theft of a $3,508 check that was supposed to have been sent to him from a corporation for which he serves as treasurer. The check never arrived and he was able to determine that the check had been deposited at a bank in Cambridge. The bank told the man that they would not investigate until a police report had been filed.
—–
At about 8 p.m. on Friday, police took a report of an apparent hit-and-run accident on Harrison Avenue. The owner of a 2015 Kia told police that she had parked her car in front of a friend’s house at about 6 p.m. When she came out at about 8 p.m., she found approximately $1,000 worth of damage to the driver’s side door.
—–
At about 10:30 p.m., police received a call from a man who said that his son (who has special needs) and his son’s friend (who is blind) were lost in the Wakefield area. Police were able to locate the two individuals at Honey Dew Donuts on Lowell Street and safely transported them home to Cambridge.
—–
At about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, a Melvin Street resident reported a possible case of identity theft. The resident told police that an unknown person had tried to open a credit card account in her name. In addition the resident had learned that someone had attempted to purchase $300 worth of merchandise using the local resident’s identity. There was no loss and there are no suspects at this time.
—–
The Fire Department responded to 35 calls over the weekend, 23 of which were for medical aid.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, firefighters were called to a Chestnut Street address on a complaint of illegal outside burning. The homeowner extinguished the fire.
At 5 p.m. on Saturday, firefighters went to Brook Street on another outside burning complaint. Fire Chief Michael Sullivan reminds residents that the outside burning season does not begin until Jan. 15.
The Fire Department also responded to a number of accidental fire alarm activations and fire alarm system malfunctions over the weekend.
