Excerpts from the Marblehead police log from Thursday, Sept. 22 to Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing to media outlets reports related to incidents related to domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation.
Thursday, Sept. 22
7:30 a.m. Man “hanging out” reported on Lime Street.
9:27 a.m. Officers assisted at the scene of an accident in which mail carrier was struck by vehicle on Tedesco Street.
10:34 a.m. Gerald Road resident reported receiving harassing calls.
4:54 p.m. Minor vehicle accident reported on Atlantic Avenue.
5:13 p.m. Tree branch reported down on Hewitt and Pleasant streets.
5:36 p.m. Investigated report that traffic light was not cycling on Humphrey and Tedesco streets.
8:35 p.m. Investigated disturbance on Broughton Road.
Friday, Sept. 23
1:07 p.m. Employment fraud reported on Roosevelt Avenue.
2:16 p.m. Traffic lights not cycling reported on Tedesco and Maple streets.
2:46 p.m. Issue with boat at Riverhead Beach reported.
3:51 p.m. Investigated report of disturbance on Turner Road.
4:06 p.m. Tree branch reported down on Mohawk Road.
4:10 p.m. Traffic lights not functioning reported at Tedesco and Maple streets.
5:38 p.m. Property dispute reported on Pitman Road.
5:49 p.m. Tree branch reported down on Rockaway Avenue.
Saturday, Sept. 24
11:26 a.m. Officer responded to the Village School to assist with a two-vehicle accident involving the Fire Department’s Engine 2. The fire truck was traveling on the access road behind the school when one of the engine’s passenger side doors opened, striking and damaging the mirror of a parked Nissan SUV. The door to the fire truck suffered minor damage as well. The Nissan was found not to have an active registration. Vehicle’s owner, who was on scene, explained that he had moved to town in the midst of the pandemic and never got the vehicle registered, as it is an
extra vehicle that he was planning on getting rid of. Officer explained to owner that the vehicle would need to be towed, as it did not have an active registration and thus could not remain on the public way. Owner stated that he understood and asked if the vehicle could be towed to his driveway so he could make arrangements to sell or trade in the vehicle. The officer-in-charge approved the tow for the vehicle to the owner’s private driveway, while officer seized the expired plates.
11:52 a.m. Laurel Street resident was given assistance.
11:52 a.m. Branch on wires reported on Pleasant Street.
3:31 p.m. Traffic signal not changing reported on Tedesco and Maple streets.
6:08 p.m. Assisted with disabled vehicle on Lighthouse Lane.
7:04 p.m. Investigated general complaint on Pleasant Street and Mohawk Road.
8:02 p.m. Investigated general complaint on Smith Street.
Sunday, Sept. 25
2:19 a.m. Assisted resident on Washington Street.
7:49 a.m. Deceased cat reported on West Shore Drive.
Noon Investigated report of vandalism on Atlantic Avenue.
1:12 p.m. Lost chickens reported on Prospect Street.
2:05 p.m. Officers assisted with landlord-tenant issue on Pleasant Street.
4:40 p.m. By phone, officer took a report of a rental scam. California man explained that about three or four months ago he had come across a posting on Craigslist for a house for rent on Overlook Road in Marblehead. He wanted to be closer to his daughter for a few months, so
he exchanged multiple emails with the landlord listed on the posting and entered into a lease
for the property from Sept. 25 until Dec. 17. He had wired $5,400 to a bank account given to him by the alleged landlord. Man had arrived today from California, and when he got to the property, he discovered that it was actually not for rent and that he had been scammed. Man then located a Realtor online who had been associated with the Overlook Road property in the past and gave them a call. They immediately realized why the man was calling and stated that multiple people have been scammed from that property in the past. Man was now staying with relatives in Wellesley. Officer gave man his email address so that he could send me photos of his email exchanges with the alleged landlord, a photo of the wire transfer, and anything else that he thought relevant and wanted to send me. Man proceeded to send officer a file with more than 30 images, as well as a detailed timeline of events.
7:24 p.m. Report taken on Commercial Street.
8:40 p.m. Assisted resident on Ralph Road.
Monday, Sept. 26
10:13 a.m. Officer went to speak to resident who had received the same text message from two different email addresses in which the sender claimed they were going to kill his family unless he gave them $5,875. A number was provided at the bottom of the email, which the officer called when he returned to the station, and the phone number is out of service. Officer informed the resident that the messages appeared to be a scam but to let police know if he experienced any other strange incidents.
11:12 a.m. Services rendered after vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue.
11:32 a.m. Wires reported down on Darling Street.
12:05 p.m. Investigated report of assault on Lafayette Street.
2:13 p.m. Traffic lights still not cycling reported on Tedesco and Maple streets.
2:45 p.m. Credit card found on Pleasant Street.
3:16 p.m. Officer received call from Marblehead fire chief who was responding to a resident complaint that people were possibly building a large bonfire in the area of the town-owned conservation land known locally as the Harbor Glade, located on Marblehead’s West Shore of Salem Harbor, just off the old railroad-right-of-way. Upon arrival, officer did not find any people but did find a large structure resembling a tepee, which had been constructed out of a variety of branches and logs on the beach in front of the Harbor Glade clearing and adjacent to the reporting party’s property. It was unclear if the wood and branches had been cut from the nearby conservation forest, drifted in on the tide or had fallen from the nearby trees. Strewn about the ground were food containers, empty beer cans and other trash. It was unclear if the wood was being used to prepare for an actual bonfire, but officer determined that, if lit, it could cause a serious brush fire given the ongoing drought conditions and could also affect the complainant’s house and grounds. After consultation, the DPW director was contacted and requested the Tree Department to respond first thing in the morning to remove and chip up this structure and other wood in the immediate area to prevent future construction. Complainant said he appreciated the decision to remove it, as it represented an attractive nuisance and potential fire hazard.
4:21 p.m. Officer assisted at scene of vehicle crash on Commercial Street.
5:12 p.m. Erratic driver reported on Atlantic Avenue.
5:22 p.m. Assisted citizen on Commercial Street.
6:05 p.m. Officers responded to disturbance on Broughton Road.
6:23 p.m. Officer investigated noise complaint on Sewall Street.
7:52 p.m. Officers responded to two young men, who seemed to be intoxicated and between the age of 13 and 16, were refusing to leave a ballet studio on Pleasant Street. The two young men had entered the ballet studio, taken off their shoes and made their way into the back office area. Owner, who was teaching a ballet lesson to several young children at the time, confronted them. The young men told her that they wanted to join in on the ballet lessons and began to dance in front of her. Owner told them to “get out,” but they continued to insist on receiving a ballet lesson. She was eventually able to convince them put on their shoes, grab their backpacks and leave. Officers then learned that the two young men had tried to make a reservation for the following day at the Mai Tai Lounge. They had complied with a request to leave, but not without creating a scene as they did so. Officers were unable to locate the two young men.
8:08 p.m. Loud noise reported on Pitman Road.
Tuesday, Sept. 27
8:56 a.m. Officer assisted with lockout on High Street.
12:07 p.m. Officer spoke to man in police station lobby who had received paperwork
in the mail from Pennsylvania regarding a vehicle that belonged to his father. The
paperwork stated he was being summonsed to court for back pay because his name was listed
as the owner of the vehicle. Man stated that he had no idea his name was on the title
of the vehicle, and that he barely speaks with or has any relationship with his father. Officer took a copy of the packet of papers man had with him and brought it to the detectives.
1:28 p.m. Officer spoke Pleasant Street resident regarding an issue she was having with a neighbor related to renovations and construction that had been going on at her residence, which her neighbor disapproved of. Woman was particularly concerned that her neighbor had placed a video camera in a second-floor window of her home, pointing directly at her backyard where the construction was taking place. Woman felt as though it was an invasion of privacy and wanted to report the incident to police. Officer advised woman that cameras can be placed on private property capturing video of its surroundings, similar to a Ring doorbell camera. In addition, he explained the process of obtaining a no-trespass order against her neighbor, as the neighbor had also entered the rear of her property uninvited and bothered the contractors. Woman was satisfied with the conversation and said she would contact police if she needed further assistance.
2:44 p.m. Officer took report in police station lobby from woman who had a credit card opened in her name. She said no one had spent money on the card but used all her information to open the
account. She had also notified the credit card company of the account someone opened in her
name. The credit card company told woman she needed to file an official police report for them
to take further action. Woman also mentioned she was part of an unemployment scam a few
years ago and thinks it could be connected.
6 p.m. Traffic lights were reportedly still not working at Tedesco and Maple streets.
6:24 p.m. Jersey Street resident reported theft of lobster trap. Man explained that when he arrived home from work, he noticed a lobster trap missing from his driveway on the other side of his corner lot home. Upon watching video from his Ring system, he observed a truck pulling out of the driveway at approximately 12:17 p.m. this afternoon. The video was distorted due to distance, but upon watching it, one can see a dark-colored newer pickup truck back out of the driveway before the video ends. The lobster trap that was taken had been cut from the buoy, which was left in the driveway, and there was an additional lobster trap right next to the one that was taken that was not disturbed. Man estimated the trap cost about $75 new.
8:22 p.m. Officer accompanied woman to Seaview Avenue to keep the peace as she retrieved her
suitcase, a purse, a hair brush, and what appeared to be phone charger.
8:48 p.m. Assisted citizen on Commercial Street.
Wednesday, Sept. 28
7:42 a.m. Officers attempted a well-being check on Village Street but could not locate the person.
9:16 a.m. Assisted resident on Elm Street.
10:45 a.m. Assisted resident on Commercial Street.
1:53 p.m. Tractor-trailer was given assistance on Anderson Street.
5:07 p.m. Traffic lights were against not cycling at Tedesco and Maple streets.
5:34 p.m. Investigated report of vandalism on Atlantic Avenue.
8:12 p.m. Assisted resident on Lafayette Street.
