Published in the May 13, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding a brief chase that ensued after an officer tried to stop a car on Church Street early Sunday morning.
According to police, the officer was on patrol in the area of North Avenue and Prospect Street at about 1:30 a.m. when he observed a black Mercedes go through a red light and then turn left onto Church Street. When the officer tried to pull the car over, it turned right onto Lafayette Street going the wrong way on the one-way street. During the pursuit, the car’s registration came back to a North Avenue address.
Police said that at one point, the car stated to pull over on Lafayette Street, but then accelerated again, turning right on Main Street and then right on Yale Avenue. The Mercedes then turned right from Yale Avenue onto North Avenue. As the officer tried to catch up, the car turned into a driveway on North Avenue. The officer saw two individuals run from the vehicle, police said, but was not able to see where they went in the dark.
Officers were able to raise the homeowner, who was apparently not involved in the incident, but police are looking at a couple of other residents of the home as persons of interest. Police will be looking at video footage from cameras along the route of the chase in an effort to establish the identities of the involved parties.
While police were trying to locate the vehicle occupants, an intoxicated neighbor came outside and was behaving in a belligerent manner. The 30-year-old man had to be taken into protective custody.
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At about 3 p.m. on Friday, police, Fire and Action Ambulance responded to a three-car crash on Main Street in Greenwood. There were no injuries reported.
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On Friday at about 6 p.m., a caller reported a hit-and-run accident on Meriam Street. Police said that a 2004 Ford Ranger sideswiped a 2019 Honda Civic that was parked on the street. The Ford did not stop, but witness was able to provide the plate number to the police, which led them to the driver of the Ford Ranger, which had damage consistent with the accident. That driver, a 62-year-old Wakefield man, will be summonsed to court for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.
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Another hit and run crash was reported at about 7:45 p.m. on Friday. Police, Fire and Action Ambulance were sent to the area of North Avenue and the Route 128 on-ramp. Police said that a 2015 Honda CX-5 was heading south on North Avenue when a car described as an older grey sedan coming from the opposite direction took a left toward the Route 128 ramp and hit the Honda. The gray sedan then continued onto the highway without stopping. There were no injuries.
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A Wakefield woman was cited for a lane violation after the 2009 BMW that she was driving struck a parked 2009 Toyota Camry on Elm Street near Eustis Avenue at about 8:30 Friday evening.
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On Saturday at about 8:30 p.m., police were called to a Chestnut Street group home after a verbal argument between two Wakefield men turned physical outside the residence. Police said that alcohol appeared to have been involved and both men were taken to the hospital for evaluation. Police are waiting to determine if any charges will be filed.
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Another hit-and-run crash was reported on Saturday night after a citizen flagged down an officer at about 9 p.m. in the area of Main and Chestnut streets. According to police, a 2006 Ford Explorer struck a 2017 Honda Civic that was parked on Chestnut Street, near Main Street causing front end damage to the Honda. A witness was able to provide police with the plate number that led them to a Stoneham address, where they found the Ford Explorer with damage consistent with the accident. A 49-year-old Stoneham man will be summonsed to court for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.
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The Fire Department responded to 27 calls over the weekend, including 18 for medical aid.
