Published in the August 28, 2017 edition.
WAKEFIELD — A 50-year-old Melrose man was arrested for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon at about 6:30 p.m. yesterday after he allegedly pulled a gun on a woman during a dispute between motorists at Cottage and Melvin streets.
According to police, a woman told them that she was dropping off a friend at a home on Valley Street and pulled into a driveway and then attempted to back up and park in front of the house. At that point, another woman got out of an older white pickup truck and asked what she was doing in in the driveway. That woman then said something to a man who was behind the wheel of the pickup truck. He then proceeded to back the truck up to the driver’s side of the car with the exhaust pipes at window level and began revving the engine, filling the inside of the car with exhaust, according to the victims.
The driver of the truck then peeled out and sped off toward Cottage Street. The driver of the car told police that she followed the truck to Cottage Street where the driver of the truck slammed on his brakes in an attempt to get her to hit him. She swerved her car around the truck and at that point the man crashed his truck into the car.
The woman told police that she then got out of her car to confront the man about the incident. As she approached the truck, he pulled out a black gun, pointed at her chest and laughed. The man then sped off in the truck back toward Valley Street. At this point, the woman in the car called 911. The woman and her passenger were able to give police a description of the man and the truck as well as the plate number.
Based on that information, the truck and the man were eventually located in Melrose at his 9 Youle St. residence by Melrose police and State Police. Police also recovered the gun. Wakefield Police then took the victim to 9 Youle St. in Melrose where she positively identified the suspect.
At this point, Wakefield Police placed Scott A. Currier under arrest and took him back to the Wakefield Police Station for booking. He faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a firearm), assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a motor vehicle) and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.
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In other business over the weekend:
Police responded to the Lakeside Inn on North Avenue at about 12:15 on Friday for a report of an unresponsive man in one of the guest rooms. Police said that the body of a 56-year-old man from Staten Island, NY was found face down at the end of the bed. A plastic bag containing a brown powdery substance believed to be heroin was found nearby. The medical examiner was notified.
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Police took a man into protective custody after a caller reported an intoxicated man attempting to get into his car in the parking lot of the Dockside restaurant at about 5:45 p.m. Friday. Arriving officers found the man in the parking lot showing signs of intoxication. He made several unsuccessful calls attempting to get a ride home before police finally took the 57-year-old Stoneham man into protective custody.
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At least one individual was taken to the hospital following an altercation at a Richardson Avenue residence at about 6:45 p.m. Friday after police responded to a complaint of a loud argument coming from a neighbor’s residence. The fight was described as “an altercation between friends.” Neither party wished to pursue charges.
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At 9 a.m. on Saturday, police responded to Curtis Street on a report to vandalism to two motor vehicles. Police said that a total of three tires were slashed on the vehicles, a 2012 Mazda 3 and 2013 Ford Escape. Police said that the vehicle owners told police of an ongoing dispute with a possible suspect in the vandalism.
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Another issue of vandalism to a car was reported to police last night. Police said that they received a call from Emerson Street, at about 9 p.m. The caller reported observing an individual get out of a white Jeep Wrangler, run over to a Chevy Tahoe and then run back and get into the Wrangler. The witness then went over and observed fresh scratch marks on the Tahoe. The witness notified the owner of the Tahoe and also called police. A short time later, police got a call that the owner of the Tahoe was behind the Wrangler heading toward Reading. Reading PD was notified and stopped both vehicles.
Police said the occupants of the Jeep initially gave conflicting stories about whether they had been in Wakefield or not earlier. Police are following up.
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The Fire Department responded to 19 calls over the weekend, 17 of which were for medical aid.
