Published in the July 10, 2015

MELROSE — Police continued this week to investigate a series of motor vehicle break-ins in the Heywood Avenue-Bay State Road area, with an eye on a suspect Stoneham Police arrested for similar crimes in that community.

On Saturday, July 4, around 8:15 a.m. a number of reports of entered vehicles began coming into Melrose headquarters. At least six Heywood Avenue residents and more on Bay State Road said their vehicles were broken into and a variety of items had been taken from them.

On Monday, July 6, Stoneham Police said they arrested Mayco Martinez-Rivaz, 23, of East Boston two days earlier. On July 4 around 2:40 a.m., police went to Stoneham’s Nina Street right on the Melrose line for a report of a breaking entering into to a motor vehicle in progress. After an investigation and search of the neighborhood, they apprehended Martinez-Rivaz and charged him with:

• Six Counts of Breaking and Entering At Nighttime For A felony

• Receiving A Stolen Motor Vehicle, Subsequent Offense

• Receiving Stolen Property Over $250

• Receiving Stolen Property Under $250

• Resisting Arrest

• Disorderly Conduct

• Possession of Burglarious Tools

A woman had called Stoneham Police after she witnessed two suspects running from her driveway toward Isabella Street. One was described as wearing a a white T-shirt, the other had on a black shirt and jeans. The woman stated the men got into a black sedan before driving off. She was able to follow the car, in her vehicle, which had been broken into, and get the suspects’ license plate number.

Shortly after arriving to the area, Officer Jon Mahoney stated he witnessed a suspect dressed in black head into the woods by Isabella Street.

Officer David Szydlowski also arrived and checked the area of Christopher Street, where he noticed a car with the overhead light on. The vehicle had its glove box and center console open. All of the items in the vehicle were in disarray.

At this point, Officer Szydlowski requested the assistance of a K-9 unit. State Police Danvers K-9 Trooper Matt Hannigan responded shortly after and started to track the suspect with Officer Mahoney on Nina Street at Isabella Street.

After over an hour of searching, the K-9 had a strong scent in the woods behind Lake Avenue. Wakefield Police dispatched officers to assist on the Spring Street side of the woods. Shortly thereafter, police located and apprehended one suspect, who was dressed in a black shirt and dark colored jeans.

Police also located two vehicles on Isabella Street that had their glove boxes and center consoles open with items in disarray, and a van on Christopher Street that was broken into. On West Ferdinand Street, police found the suspects’ vehicle, with the matching plate from the reporting party, which came back stolen. The seat was all the way back and had burglarious tools on the floor in plain view. A vehicle on Walsh Avenue was missing its rear registration plate.

A Melrose Police spokesman said his department was interested to see if Martinez-Rivaz was involved in the local breaks. At press time Wednesday afternoon, no charges had been filed.

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A 27 year old Malden man was arrested after allegedly giving police a hard time during their response to a disturbance on Cottage Street early Wednesday, July 1.

Police went to Cottage Street around 12:15 a.m. when they were told of a possible fight in the area. There were several people in the street when they arrived, and while police were interviewing people about what happened, one man leaning against one of the cruisers reportedly became argumentative and then confrontational with officers.

Michael Flaherty, 60 Main St., apartment 3, Malden was arrested for disorderly conduct. He resisted arrest, police said, and even spit at an officer, so he was also charged with assault and battery on a police officer.

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Two 14 year old youths walking on East Emerson Street Tuesday night, June 30, were reportedly assaulted by the occupants of a red motor vehicle sometime before 10:09 p.m.

Police were told that those in the motor vehicle yelled something at the two youths, who then ran off and hid for their safety. Eventually they reemerged from their hiding place, only to be found again by the people in the car. The two were assaulted, with one of the youths possibly suffering a broken nose.

While no charges are being pursued by the assault victims, police said the incident remains under investigation.

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A 32 year old Wilmington man will be summonsed to court for operating to endanger on Lincoln Street July 1.

According to police, they went to the intersection of Lincoln and Sawyer Road around 3:40 p.m. after being told of a car crash involving a tree. After investigating, they learned that the driver of a 1998 Nissan Altima head south on Lincoln Street was in the process of going around a parked car. The driver of a 2010 Ford F250 pick up truck coming the other way scraped a tree with the step on the side of the truck.

It was determined the pickup truck driver did not give the Altima enough room and actually caused the accident.

The Weekly News does not publish the names of those people police say they plan to summonse to court.

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A man who may or may not have been looking at pornographic material on a laptop computer in the Main Street Dunkin’ Donuts around 6 p.m. July 1 was sent on his way after an employee who called in the report decided not to pursue the matter.

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A 27 year old Lynn woman involved in a car crash at the corner of Howard and Ruggles streets Monday, June 29, was arrested for driving without a license (subsequent offense) and on three outstanding default warrants.

Police said the Lynn woman was heading east on Howard Street around 3:45 p.m. when she collided with another car exiting Ruggles Street.

The Lynn woman was injured and taken to the hospital, but she allegedly admitted to police at the accident scene that her license had been suspended. Around 6:15 p.m., police went to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital and arrested her on the outstanding warrants.

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An East Foster Street woman told police around 6:15 p.m. June 29 that the inside of her home had been vandalized by suspects who sprayed mustard and ketchup all over the walls, cabinets and floors. Nothing was reportedly missing.

The woman told police she went to the store and was gone about 20 minutes. When she returned, she discovered not only the interior vandalism but noticed items from inside the home were on her front lawn.

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Police continue to investigate the whereabouts of a 30 year old woman whose mother, an East Emerson Street resident, told police she hasn’t seen her child since Christmas and felt she may be in danger.

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Over the July Fourth holiday weekend, police handled a variety of fireworks complaints at the following times and in the following neighborhoods:

• Friday, July 3, at 8:57 p.m. on Indian Hill Road at Porter Street.

• Saturday, July 4, at 9:15 p.m. at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Lynde Street. Also, at 11:49 p.m. on Rockland Street.

• Sunday, July 5, at 12:03 a.m. at the intersection of Penney and Dexter roads and at 12:08 a.m. in the parking lot of the Roosevelt School.