Published in the May 31, 2016 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Police are investigating a possible armed robbery after several local youths reported being held up by a man on Main Street early Monday morning.
The three juveniles told police that they were walking down main Street near JJ Round at about 12:30 a.m. when a man approached them and demanded the hoverboard that one of the juveniles was carrying as well as their cell phones and wallets. One of the juveniles said that he observed a knife in the man’s back pocket but no weapon was shown in the incident.
The youths said that they took off running, leaving the hoverboard and some of their other personal belongings behind. They told police that they did see the man exit JJ Round in a black Kia and provided police with the plate number. Police were later able to locate the vehicle, believed to be a rental, in Wilmington. Police are seeking a search warrant for the car, which was towed back to Wakefield.
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In other business over the weekend:
Police and the Fire Department responded to a crash involving a Mercedes that was driven into two parked cars on Lowell Street at about 9:45 a.m. Friday morning. Police said that Mercedes hit a 2013 Ford Explorer and a 2012 GMC Acadia. Police said that the cause of the crash appeared to be driver inattention.
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Three people were taken into protective custody at about 10:30 p.m. Friday after the manager of the Lakeside Inn requested that police remove several unruly guests. The hotel employee told police that several individuals had been hanging around the lobby and the parking lot of the hotel and appeared to be intoxicated. They reportedly had made their way into one of the hotel rooms and were causing a disturbance. The individuals included a 54-year-old homeless woman and two Cambridge men, one 54 and the other 61 years old.
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A custodian at Wakefield Memorial High School told police on Saturday afternoon of a breaking and entering incident from the night before. The custodian said that early in the morning he heard a noise as he was cleaning the school library. He went to check on the source of the noise and saw two individuals run out the door. He then noticed that they had caused some vandalism by throwing eggs in the hallway. Police are working with the schools to identify the vandals.
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Police will summons a 44-year-old Melrose man to court after he drove his 2003 GMC Sierra into a parked car on Main Street at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. The man faces charges for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs (second offense), negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and sending/receiving text messages while driving. Police said that when police arrived the man was unsteady on his feet, his pupils were constricted and he appeared confused. Witnesses told police that they had seen the man emptying his pockets after the crash and throwing the contents down a nearby storm drain. Officers located drug paraphernalia, including what was believed to be a marijuana grinder, in the car.
The man was transported to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
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A 42-year-old Wakefield man will be summonsed to court on assault and battery charges in connection with an incident on Charles Street at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. The man told police that a group of kids rang his doorbell and did some vandalism to his property and then took off. He reportedly chased the kids and grabbed a 13-year-old by the arm in what was described as an excessive manner.
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Just after 1 a.m. on Sunday, police were called to Ledgewood Road after a caller reported hearing a loud bang and seeing two males walking away toward Rosemary Avenue. Responding units found multiple mailboxes vandalized on Ledgewood Road and Montrose Avenue. Police later found more mailboxes vandalized on Rosemary Avenue and Sycamore Road.
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A 23-year-old Wakefield man was arrested at about 11:20 last night for malicious destruction of property after he allegedly damaged a planter near Cibo Cafe in Greenwood. Police initially responded to a report of a man with a backpack and a towel on his head acting strangely in front of Most Blessed Sacrament Church. He was arrested after police discovered the damage to the planter.
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The Fire Department had a busy holiday weekend, answering 53 calls, 36 of which were for medical aid.
Here is a sample of some of those responses.
FRIDAY, MAY 27
• 10:15 a.m., West Water Street, accidental fire alarm activation due to cooking.
• 10:30 a.m., Bay State Road at Kearley Lane for a limb down on wires and a motor vehicle.
SATURDAY, MAY 28
• 3 a.m., mutual aid to 844 Main St. in Lynnfield on a second alarm.
• 11:15 a.m., 1 Acorn Ave., car lockout.
• 12:45 p.m., 128 north just before exit 41, two car accident with mother and infant child taken to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
• 3 p.m., 88 Greenwood Ave., discarded smoke detector sounding on porch. Firefighters removed the battery.
• 3:30 p.m., 733 Main St., smoke coming from mulch and wood chips in the backyard. Engines 1 and 2 and the ladder truck responded.
• 8:30 p.m., 979 Main St., two trucks in an accident at the Greenwood Plaza.
• 11:30 p.m., 7 Eaton St., fire alarm system malfunction.
• 11:40 p.m., a home on Chestnut Street had a problem with a bathroom fixture.
SUNDAY, MAY 29
• 2:30 p.m., 8 Meadow View Rd., fire alarm system malfunction.
• 5 p.m., 5 Heather Ln., accidental fire alarm activation caused by cooking.
• 6:40 p.m., North Avenue and Main Street, car lockout.
• 9 p.m., Winship Drive, report of smoke in the area. None found.
MONDAY, MAY 30
• 1:45 p.m., Oak Street home, fire alarm system malfunction.
