Swastika Found Etched on School Field, Man Leads Police on Foot Chase After Attemped B&E: 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.

Sunday, Jan. 29

• A caller at Highlander Farms Wine & Spirits on Waltham Street reported vandalism to the shop. The caller said on Jan. 22 at approximately 1 a.m. the front door window and front large window to the left of the doorway was damaged. The caller said he saw a dark-colored SUV throw what appeared to be rocks at the windows of the store. He was unable to see the license plate or occupants.

• A caller at Lasell College reported that he arrived at his car on Union Street that morning and noticed his wallet was missing. The car is a convertible and someone sliced open the roof to get inside, police said.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

• Police responded to Arlington Street for a report of a past larceny. A blue Fisher Price children's basketball hoop had been taken from the driveway. The hoop was last seen the previous evening.

Thursday, Feb. 2

• Alexander Andujar, 26, of Roslindale, was arrested after police believed him to be under the influence of alcohol. Officers responded to the front of the Woodland train station for a report of a man asleep at the wheel. Responding officers found a small silver SUV facing westbound on Washington Street, and another officer was speaking to the driver, identified as Andujar. Police asked Andujar questions about where he was coming from and what he was doing. Police said his eyes appeared to be glassy and a moderate alcohol odor emanated from him. Police saw three empty 16-ounce Miller Lite cans and an empty 40-ounce Colt 45 bottle on the passenger seat and a half-drank 40-ounce Colt 45 on the back passenger side floor board. Andujar was asked to exit and walk to the rear of the vehicle. Police said when he arrived at the rear of his vehicle, he attempted to turn around and stumbled. Police believed him to be driving under the influence and arrested him.

• A past larceny was reported at "Equinox" gym. The caller said his phone was stolen from the men's locker room the previous day.

• Henry Turner, principal of Newton North High School, reported a swastika drawn in the snow on the softball field. A teacher noticed the swastika and reported it to the main office around 3:35 p.m. Police looked at the swastika on the field and said it appeared to have been drawn in clay and may have been there awhile.

Friday, Feb. 3

• John Hughes, 19, of Greenwich, CT was arrested and charged with attempt to commit a crime to wit breaking and entering nighttime, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Police responded to Janet Road for a report of a person banging on the door.

The alarm company had noted alarms going off at the family room light door and basement door motion alarm. Officers heard someone at the back of the house and began walking toward the noise when one of the officers yelled, "I found him. Stop!" Police then saw a person run out of the backyard from the left side, through a tree line and into another backyard on Clinton Place. Police began pursuing the individual, who was described as a white male in his early 20s, shirtless, with blue jeans and dark-colored sneakers. The suspect ran into the street on Clinton Place, heading toward Centre Street. Police continued to yell at the suspect to stop, and he did not comply. The suspect then ran into the driveway of the last house on the right on Clinton Place and attempted to run through the backyard. He bounced off a metal fence and fell onto the side lawn, at which point officers were able to arrest him.

There were no signs of forced entry at the front of the house on Janet Road. At the rear, the porch screen doors that led into the family room were pulled open and the basement door was bent as if it were being pried open. One of the screens was ripped off a window at the rear of the house, as well. Smear marks from fingers were visible on the glass of the window, indicating someone was trying to open it by pushing it up but failed, police said.

The caller told police he was asleep upstairs when he awoke to the sound of someone banging on his front door. He went downstairs and through a window in the door saw a white male, about 5-foot-8. He asked why the person was at his door and could only hear mumbling. The person asked if he could come in, and the caller said no. The person asked when he could come back, and the caller said tomorrow. The caller then went upstairs, hid in the closet and called police. While he was upstairs he said he heard someone in the backyard pulling on the porch screen doors and banging on the windows.

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