Police Log: Drug Charges; Hidden Camera Found in Bathroom; American Flag Burned

After dodging taxi fare, Waltham man faces drug charges

A Waltham man was arrested Monday (Sept. 5) after police responded to Watertown Street for a report of someone trying to avoid paying a cab fare.

William J. Beers, 39, of 2003 Stearns Hill Road, was arrested and charged with possession of a Class C substance and taxi fare evasion.

According to reports, officers were dispatched to the area around 3:30 a.m. and spoke with a cab driver from the Boston Cab Company, who said two men owed him around $26 and had gone into an apartment building to get the money, but did not return.

After waiting a bit, it was clear the men were not returning with the money, reports said. A short while after the cab driver left, police spotted two men coming out of the apartment complex who matched the description from the Boston cab driver. 

The men, who were trying to get into another (yellow) cab, were stopped by police before they could leave and asked about the previous cab ride. One of the men, identified later as Beers, said he had not gone to Boston.

While police were talking to Beers, they noticed him toss a plastic bag filled with green pills on to the ground. Reports said Beers told police he did not have a prescription for the pills and would not say where he got them. Police then arrested Beers.

The other man, a 44-year old from Lynn, was placed into protective custody after police spoke with him and found him to be extremely intoxicated, reports said. 

Hidden camera found in store bathroom

According to police reports, a man found a camera hidden in a vent inside a bathroom at 's on Needham Street. 

Police responded to the store on Saturday (Sept. 3) and spoke to a man who said he went to the unisex (single) bathroom and found a camera placed inside a small heating vent, which was on the floor located directly in front of the toilet. 

The man said he spotted the camera after standing up from the toilet and noticed it had a red power light. He turned the camera off and then reported it to store management.

Reports said the other bathroom in the Marshall's was checked and it did not have a camera. 

American flag burned in the street

A Newton Police officer patrolling near Waverley Avenue on Sunday (Sept. 4) reported seeing someone lighting an American flag on fire in the middle of the street. 

According to reports, the officer was on routine patrol when he saw fire on Ruthven Road in his rear-view mirror. He then saw a man run by the cruiser and into a front yard of a nearby home. 

Reports said the officer found the burned flag in the middle of the road and a red gasoline can about 15 feet away. The Fire Department responded to the scene and other officers patrolled the area for any suspects, but came up empty handed. Officers later found a flag pole on Sargent Street that was missing a flag and the rope on the pole was burned through. 

Woman arrested after domestic incident

A Newton woman was arrested Sunday (Sept. 4) after police responded to Parker Street for reports of a physical altercation, reports said.

Angela Hughes Halliwell, 34, of 64 Parker St., was arrested for domestic assault and battery and intimidation of a witness, police said. 

Fight between roommates leads to arrest

A Newton man was arrested Saturday (Sept. 3) after police responded to Dearborn Street for reports of a fight between roommates, reports said.

Richard Fair, 56, of 46 Dearborn St., was arrested for domestic assault and battery, police said. 

Newton man arrested on a warrant

A Newton man was arrested Friday on a default warrant out of Newburyport District Court, reports said.

Nathan T. Brown, 37, of 18 Eddy St., was arrested on a warrant for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license and a marked lanes violation, police said.

For questions on this police blotter, email Editor Melanie Graham at Melanie.Graham@patch.com.