WAKEFIELD — Detective Christopher Grace was credited this morning with helping Stoneham Police locate an Albion Street man allegedly involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run incident late last year.
Grace was instrumental in locating the motor vehicle that allegedly struck a man as he was about to get into his car in front of Gaetano’s Restaurant on Route 28 Dec. 20.
Yesterday, Stoneham Police said they planned to charge 22-year-old Jonathan Shedd, 248 Albion St., with leaving the scene of an accident after he was identified thanks to work done by Grace and to a citizen who saw media reports of the incident and came forward.
Shedd was identified when Grace noticed a vehicle — a maroon Jeep Cherokee — matching the description provided by Stoneham Police, based on the evidence left at the scene. A citizen also called police anonymously.
Shedd will be summonsed to court at a later date. Full details of the incident are in the original Dec. 29 press release below.
On Saturday, Dec. 20 around 11:20 p.m. Stoneham Police and firefighters responded to 276 Main St. in Stoneham for a report of a pedestrian struck. The victim, a 61-year-old Stoneham man, was found by first responders lying in the street with a group of bystanders around him.
The victim reportedly told police that he was walking to his car when he was struck by a dark colored SUV. The impact of the crash was so great that it knocked the passenger side-view mirror off of the vehicle. The mirror was maroon in color and investigators were able to trace it back to an older model (1998-2006) Jeep Grand Cherokee, which would also be maroon in color. Pieces of plastic and an antenna were also found scattered around the area.
“We are asking anyone who may have been in the area or who may have recently seen a damaged Jeep Grand Cherokee to please come forward,” Stoneham Police James Chief McIntyre said at the time. “We also want to alert auto body shops. The driver of this vehicle ran down a Stoneham resident and fled the scene. If this person comes to your shop asking for a quick fix, call the police.”
The victim was treated at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The victim also offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the driver.
