Published in the May 20, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Vernon Street had to be shut down in both directions for a time last night after a car took down a utility pole in the area of Vernon Street and Mansfield Drive at about 8:15 p.m.
The police report was not complete at press time, but two vehicles were reportedly involved, a 2014 Honda Civic Driven by a Wakefield man and a 2013 Honda Odyssey driven by a Lynnfield man.
The Fire Department reported that when they arrived all three occupants were out of the cars and all three refused transport to the hospital. The Light Department responded to secure the pole.
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At about 3 p.m. on Friday, a Greenwood Avenue woman reported that funds had been stolen from her Bank of America checking and savings accounts. The woman told police that she contacted BOA and was told that four checks of $1,850 each had been cashed. The woman said that she still has all of her checks, so she believed that the cashed checks must have been fraudulent. Bank of America has opened a fraud case and is investigating.
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Police will summons a 41-year-old Roslindale man to court for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle after he was pulled over on Salem Street at about 4:45 p.m. on Friday for having window tint darker than allowed by law on his 2010 Mercury Milan. After stopping the vehicle, the officer determined that the man’s license was expired and non-renewable. A licensed driver was called to retrieve the car.
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Police arrested a 68-year-old Melrose woman for driving under the influence of alcohol after she drove her car into the backyard of a Linden Avenue home at about 8:30 Friday night.
Officer Matthew Malone arrived on scene to find tire tracks leading from the road into the yard. In the backyard, he found Deborah J. McKenzie of 225 First St. in Melrose, sitting on the ground beside a vehicle with its motor running.
The homeowner told police that McKenzie had been driving around trying to exit the yard when he intervened and told her to get out of the car. Police said that McKenzie was uncooperative and would not answer their questions. They also detected an odor of alcohol on her breath, police said. When asked multiple times if she knew where she was, McKenzie insisted that she was in a friend’s backyard and had been there all day.
After administering field sobriety tests, McKenzie was taken into custody.
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Just after midnight on Saturday, police arrested a 23-year-old Pierce Avenue man for drunk driving after he apparently hit a utility pole in the area of 283 Lowell St. Officer Ryan Doren arrived on the scene to find a gray Jeep Wrangler lying on its left side and the driver being assisted by a bystander.
The driver said that he was not injured, but police observed that he was unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred and his eyes were glassy. He admitted to having a few drinks earlier and claimed that he fell asleep while driving.
Police arrested Zack S. Levine of 12 Pierce Ave. for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was also charged with a marked lanes violation.
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At about 8:45 Saturday morning, an Emerson Street woman reported a past theft of items from her motor vehicle. The woman told police that she had returned home on Sunday, May 12 after a weekend away. She said that the next morning, she noticed that things had been moved around inside her unlocked 2017 Mercedes SUV, but she didn’t think it was worth reporting it to police.
She said that she later remembered that she had left $500 worth of clothing purchased at Macy’s that she had planned to return.
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Police responded to a two-car crash on Main Street in Greenwood at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. A Saugus woman told police that the brakes apparently failed on her 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee causing her to rear-end a 2018 Subaru Outback ahead of her in traffic. The Jeep was towed from the scene.
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A Stoneham man was cited for passing on the right after his 2013 Yamaha motorcycle hit a 2013 Toyota Sienna at Water and Smith streets on Saturday at about 1:30 p.m. According to police, witnesses said that a car had stopped on Water Street to allow the Toyota to turn onto Smith Street when the motorcycle passed on the right and hit the Toyota.
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Police sent a carload of youths on their way after a caller reported that they were trespassing on the old Winship property on Mansion Road at about 3:45 p.m. on Saturday.
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At about 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, police restored peace after a reported disturbance in front of My Brother’s Place Pizza on Main Street.
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At about 12:30 on Sunday morning police went to an Elm Street address after a caller reported a man causing a disturbance due to a party being shut down earlier. Police called in Action Ambulance to do a mental health evaluation based on witness statements. The man was taken to Melrose-
Wakefield Hospital.
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At about 8 a.m. on Sunday morning a caller reported vandalism at Mapleway Playground involving spray paint.
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The Fire Department responded to 30 calls over the weekend. Nineteen of those were for medical aid.
At about 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, firefighters went to a Chestnut Street address after a resident fell asleep after leaving a pot on a stove causing a heavy smoke condition in the unit. Firefighters vented the home.
Other non-medical calls involved carbon monoxide issues as well accidental an malfunctioning fire alarm systems.
