Police Log: Two Instances of Assault and Smoke in a Cellar

Wednesday, Feb. 2

7:32 a.m. A Main Street resident reported that he had lost his medication.

9:38 a.m. Police spoke to a man near the intersection of Main Street and Haven Street who was standing in the road and wearing a tan coat. Police determined he was a local man with difficulty walking.

12:42 p.m. A Mount Vernon Street resident reported that her car was stuck near the intersection of Mt. Vernon St and School Street because the Department of Public Works had not plowed.  The resident said she spoke to the DPW before calling the police. When police arrived at the intersection, she had departed.

1:03 p.m. An employee at Rite Aid reported a shoplifter in the store. Police spoke to the alleged shoplifter, who had not stolen anything and said he was waiting for public transportation home. Police gave him a verbal “no trespassing” order.

3:35 p.m. A Reading Memorial High School student reported that someone stole a cell phone from her backpack on Jan. 28.

3:37 p.m. A John Carver Road resident reported that a man was pushing snow into the street.

4:51 p.m. A 16-year-old youth reported that he had been assaulted by a former friend, another 16-year-old youth. The reporting youth said the other boy had punched him in the face, then left the area. Police located the offending youth and took him home to speak with his mother.

5:14 p.m. A High Street resident reported that a diamond ring valued at $12,000 had been taken from her residence. The resident did not know when or how the ring had been taken, and police found no signs of forced entry.

5:36 p.m. Police received a report of a driver who collided with a snow bank on Main Street.

5:47 p.m. Police responded to a report of a possible water main break on Main Street. The water department’s on-call contact said he believed the area to be a frost heave, and he wasn’t concerned.

6:00 p.m. Police received a report of a plow truck stuck in a snow bank near the intersection of Main Street and Bethesda Lane.

7:04 p.m. Police notified the Department of Public Works of a loose manhole cover on Sanborn Street.

Thursday, Feb. 3

1:15 a.m. A Hopkins Street resident reported a car with its engine running behind Sam’s Bistro. Police visited the restaurant, and found that the vehicle belonged to some of the restaurant’s employees, who planned to leave shortly.

2:10 a.m. The Reading Fire Department responded to Larch Lane where a resident had found smoke in his cellar. The fire department determined that the smoke originated from a nearby outside fire built by a neighborhood resident earlier that evening.

6:10 a.m. The Reading Fire Department responded to a on Marla Lane.

7:30 a.m. An anonymous caller reported that snow on the road near the intersection of Main Street and Putnum Street had created slippery conditions. Police forwarded the notice to the Department of Public Works.

7:50 a.m. An anonymous caller reported a loos dog running in traffic near the intersection of West Street and South Street. The dog had departed by the time police arrived.

10:03 a.m. Police responded to a two-vehicle collision between a Reading driver and a Hamilton driver near the intersection of Highland Street and Locus Street. Gray’s towing took one vehicle from the scene.

10:48 a.m. A Leaning Elm Drive resident reported that a company called her and said they were giving away gifts in her name. Police informed the resident that this was a scam phone call and explained her options to her.

11:35 a.m. A resident found a Boston terrier named “Libby” near the intersection of Willow Street and the railroad tracks. Police held the dog at the station until the owner could pick her up.

12:34 p.m. Police assisted the Department of Child and Family Services as the group removed a child from a Woburn Street home.

12:52 p.m. Police responded to a two-vehicle collision between a Stoneham driver and a Billerica driver near the Bagel World on Main Street.

1:30 p.m. A Pennsylvania Avenue resident reported a suspicious vehicle near the Joshua Eaton School. The caller said the vehicle circled the area three times.

5:46 p.m. A Shackford Road resident reported that a neighbor punched him in the face. The neighbor reported that that the resident had gone up the neighbor’s driveway and shoved the neighbor’s father. Police spoke to all parties involved and advised them of their rights to file charges in Woburn District Court.

9:30 p.m. A caller reported spotting youths shoveling on the roof of the Stop and Shop on Walkers Brook Drive. The store’s manager reported that he had hired the crew.

10:56 p.m. Police took a Wakefield man into protevtive custody after he was found walking in the street and unstable on his feet near the intersection of Main Street and Summer Avenue.