Police Find Man Allegedly Passed Out Behind Wheel, Man Reported After He Asks Children to Buy Playstation: Newton Crime Log

NEWTON, MA – Editor's Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Newton Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a Massachusetts Patch police report.

Friday, Jan. 6

• Police responded to the Gucci boutique inside Bloomingdale's at the Chestnut Hill mall for a report of a past larceny of a backpack. A camera shows a man exiting the store with a backpack matching the description around 5:05 p.m. The video shows a black male wearing a black jacket, jeans, high boots and possibly a scarf or ski mask pulled down to his neck leave with the backpack and head toward the main concourse of the mall.

Saturday, Jan. 7

• Police responded to the area of Whittemore Road for a wellbeing check of a man in a Jeep who appeared to be passed out with the motor still running. Police said the engine was running, but it was stopped with the front tire touching the curb and the rear tire more than a foot away at an angle. A man was asleep behind the wheel with the driver's side door open and the keys in the ignition, police said. Officers asked the man where he was coming from and he did not seem to understand the question, according to police. The man, Richard Hardiman, 53, of Worcester, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of drugs.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

• Police were flagged down by a black SUV at the intersection of Andrew Street and Dedham Street by an unidentified person. He said while driving on Stony Brea Road, he saw a man in his mid-20's with long hair expose himself. Police searched the Stony Brea and Shady Hill Road area and could not find the purported person.

• Police responded to Pelham Street for a report of a stolen bike. The caller said he keeps his garage door unlocked and open most of the time and that afternoon noticed his 1985 Trek bicycle was missing from the garage. He said he last saw the bike the previous morning and believes it was stolen sometime during the afternoon. The bike is described as silver with a red Trek label.

• Police responded to Roundwood Road for a report of a suspicious incident. Two middle school students reported that while walking home from the bus stop at the intersection of Oak and Elliot streets, they encountered a suspicious white male standing next to a black pickup truck. The man allegedly said, "I don't know if you like video games but I have a Playstation 3 I am trying to sell in my truck. If you want to come by later I'll be around." He did not threaten them or ask them to get into the truck; when they stated they were not interested in the PS3 the conversation ended. The man was described as approximately 6 feet tall, skinny, wearing an orange shirt, black hat and jeans with possible paint stains on them. The truck was described as a black "work" pickup truck with some sort of construction equipment in the bed. There was no further conversation beyond the initial exchange, but they told their mother about the incident.

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