Published in the September 28, 2015 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Police responded to a number of disturbances but two reported incidents of threats involving weapons proved to be unfounded in a busy weekend for local police.
On Friday at 3 p.m., a Salem Street resident reported that he had been attacked by his neighbors. The man told police that a another man and a woman had been harassing him. According to police the incident began when the two men exchanged words and then escalated to a physical altercation in which one of the men sustained scratches on his arm. Police will summons one of the men to court for assault and battery.
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A report of a man under the influence and carrying two knives led to an arrest of a North Reading man at the Subaru dealership on North Avenue at about 2 p.m. on Saturday. Police determined that the incident involving the knife was a misunderstanding. The man was reportedly using the knife to cut an apple and no threats were involved. However he was arrested on multiple unrelated default warrants.
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On Sunday at about 1:45 p.m., police responded to the West Side Social Club on a report of a man threatening people with a gun. The incident turned out to be a verbal altercation between two men after a club member took exception to a man parking his vehicle on the lawn of the WSSC to take some photos. Police determined that the vehicle owner did have a properly licensed firearm but no threats involving the gun were involved.
In other police business over the weekend, police were called to Salem Street and Audubon Road at about 10:15 a.m. Friday on a report of a disoriented elderly man walking in the street but were unable to locate anyone fitting the description.
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Police were called to Bartley Street at about 11:30 a.m. Friday after a syringe was found in front of a home. The syringe was located and disposed of by police.
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At 12:30 p.m. on Friday, a caller reported that a man had been sleeping on a park bench near Church Street and had not moved for hours. Officers located the individual who checked out OK.
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At about 7:20 p.m. on Friday, police assisted in the exchange of papers after a two-car crash at Albion Street and Jordan Avenue. No injuries were reported.
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Police responded to a report of a half-dressed woman chasing two children and screaming on Putnam Avenue. Police determined that it was a mother trying to get her kids in the house for the evening.
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At about 10:20 p.m. Friday, police found an abandoned motor vehicle on Lowell Street with a smashed windshield and flattened tires. Police contacted Derry, N.H. Police to contact the registered owner. The vehicle was towed for an expired registration.
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On Saturday at about 1 a.m., a Columbia Road resident reported someone knocking on his windows and trying to get into his apartment. It turned out to be the building landlord trying to get into the apartment to shut off the water due to a leak in another apartment.
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Police were unable to locate youths on scooters reportedly yelling profanities at pedestrians on Main Street near Franklin Street at about 5:15 p.m. Saturday.
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A Walker Terrace caller reported heavy smoke in the area from an unknown source at about 8 p.m. Saturday. The Fire Department responded and inspected an outside fire pit in the neighborhood.
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A man was transported to Lahey Clinic in Burlington after falling off a ladder on Meriam Street at about 10:20 a.m. on Sunday.
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Police investigated a minor accident between a 2010 Mazda CX9 and a 2011 Toyota Camry on Pleasant and Otis streets just before 11 a.m. Sunday.
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A court summons will be issued in connection with several motor vehicle accidents on Elm Street near the Reading line at about 9:40 p.m. Sunday. The owner of a 2005 Dodge Ram reported that his parked vehicle had been struck by a hit and run driver on Parker Road. Meanwhile, a caller reported that a vehicle had struck a fire hydrant on Elm Street. At around the same time, the Reading Police were investigating a 2010 Toyota Tundra with heavy front end damage that ended up on the lawn of a home on Ash Street in Reading. The driver will be summonsed to court for leaving the scene of an accident.
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At about 10:30 last night, a Gould Street resident reported seeing possible strobe lights or alarms going off in the area. It turned out to be residents of Byron Street taking pictures of the lunar eclipse.
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Police at the Public Safety Building received a walk-in report of of a possible larceny on Cedar Street. The individual was advised to return when sober and was taken by taxi to the Lakeside Inn for the evening.
