Table of Contents
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Dec. 1
2:30 p.m. — Officer Jason McDonald responded to a reported hit-and-run involving property damage on Elm Street after a caller reported that a commercial van may have struck a loose-stone wall along Dunn’s Lane and left the area. McDonald spoke with the caller, who said a neighbor observed the van traveling along Dunn’s Lane shortly before the damage was noticed but did not actually witness the vehicle strike the wall. McDonald went to the location, observed displaced and disturbed stones consistent with recent impact, and documented the condition of the wall. Because no direct witness observed the collision and no identifying information for the vehicle was available at the scene, McDonald advised the caller that the incident could not be confirmed as a hit-and-run at that time. He further suggested the caller consider installing a trail camera or similar monitoring device to help deter future issues or assist with identifying vehicles if similar incidents occur.
4:40 p.m. — Officer Christian Hennigar met with a resident on Beacon Street who reported an alleged unauthorized credit card purchase after receiving an email notification indicating a charge of approximately $600. The resident reported the charge was for what was described as a limited-edition package of Pokémon cards that appeared to have been delivered to a business location unfamiliar to the resident. Hennigar reviewed the information provided, documented the allegation, and confirmed the resident had already contacted the credit card issuer and other financial institutions to dispute the charge. Hennigar advised the resident to freeze credit with the major credit bureaus, continue monitoring all financial accounts for additional suspicious activity, and retain documentation related to the disputed transaction as the matter proceeded through the financial institution’s fraud review process.
6:24 p.m. — Officer Tyler Bates took a report at the police station from a caller who said they were allegedly targeted in a loan-related scam. The caller reported receiving a phone call offering a loan and subsequently providing personal banking information during the conversation. The caller stated that deposits then appeared in their bank account, after which the alleged scammers instructed the caller to return the funds by purchasing and sending Apple gift cards. The caller reported becoming suspicious at that point, declining to send the funds, and contacting their bank to report the activity. Bates documented the report, noted the caller had already notified the financial institution, and advised the caller to continue working with the bank and monitor accounts for further fraudulent activity.
Dec. 2
8:38 a.m. — Officer Brandon Boutilier took a phone report from a caller regarding an alleged scam in which a man claimed the caller had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear for jury duty. The caller reported the individual demanded that they meet in person to pay a bond to resolve the matter. The caller further stated that a second individual later joined the call and allegedly impersonated a Marblehead police officer, insisting the caller was not allowed to hang up the phone. The caller said the aggressive nature of the call raised concern, and they ultimately ended the call without providing any personal or financial information before contacting police. Boutilier documented the incident and advised the caller to block the phone number and remain cautious of similar calls in the future.
11:44 a.m. — Officer Andrew Clark spoke with a resident on Warwick Terrace who reported alleged credit card fraud after noticing charges on a statement that the resident said they did not authorize. Clark reviewed the information provided, documented the resident’s account, and advised the resident to review their credit report for any additional irregularities. Clark further advised the resident to file a report through IdentityTheft.gov and explained that a police report would be needed by the credit card company as the dispute and investigation proceeded through the financial institution’s fraud resolution process.
Dec. 3
6:59 a.m. — Lt. David Ostrovitz conducted a motor vehicle stop after observing a vehicle enter an intersection on Pleasant Street after the traffic signal had turned red. During the stop, Ostrovitz addressed additional issues related to the vehicle’s registration status and the driver’s condition. Ostrovitz documented the enforcement action, took steps to resolve the registration-related matters, and ensured the vehicle was properly handled in accordance with procedure before the stop was concluded.
Dec. 4
10:30 a.m. — Officer Adam Mastrangelo responded to Ocean Avenue for a reported neighbor dispute involving alleged unauthorized tree trimming. A resident reported that a neighbor had cut tree branches the resident believed were located on their side of the property line and not overhanging the neighbor’s yard. Mastrangelo spoke with the reporting party and examined the area where the trimming had occurred but was unable to conclusively determine how far the limbs had extended prior to being cut. Mastrangelo advised the resident that the dispute appeared to be civil in nature rather than criminal and recommended contacting an attorney or pursuing the matter through civil channels if the resident wished to take further action.
Dec. 5
9:15 a.m. — Officer Brandon Boutilier responded to Rowland Street after a resident reported a possible attempted break-in that had occurred during the overnight hours. The resident told Boutilier that motion-activated lights had turned on and that they observed an unknown male walk up the driveway toward a side door of the garage. The resident reported the individual placed a hand on the doorknob before leaving the area when additional lights activated. Boutilier documented the report, noted there were no cameras positioned to capture the driveway or garage area, and forwarded the information for investigative awareness in the event similar incidents were reported in the surrounding area.
7:50 p.m. — Officer Christian Hennigar responded to Ocean Avenue after a 911 caller reported a vehicle stuck in the sand near the shoreline. Hennigar located a vehicle partially buried in the sand with waves reaching the side of the vehicle. He made contact with the operator, who used a translation app to explain that he had driven down from the parking area to take a photograph and then became stuck. Hennigar requested a tow service, documented the incident, and remained on scene while the vehicle was removed from the sand. After the vehicle was freed, the operator left the area with assistance from a family member.
Dec. 9
10 a.m. — Officer Douglas Mills met with a resident in the police station lobby who reported receiving a disturbing message from an unfamiliar phone number. The resident said they believed the message was a spam or phishing attempt and sought guidance. Mills reviewed the message, advised the resident not to respond to unknown or suspicious numbers, demonstrated how to block the sender, and documented the incident as informational.
Dec. 11
8:20 a.m. — Officer Andrew Clark spoke with a resident on Clifton Avenue who reported a suspected identity theft incident after receiving a text message from Capital One indicating activity on an account the resident said they did not open. The resident reported that upon further review, they discovered a Capital One credit card had allegedly been opened using their personal information without authorization. Clark documented the report, advised the resident to freeze credit with the major credit bureaus, closely monitor all financial accounts for additional fraudulent activity, and file a report through IdentityTheft.gov. Clark noted the documentation would be required as the matter proceeded with the financial institution.
10:51 a.m. — Officer Andrew Clark responded to Camille Terrace regarding a neighborhood dispute stemming from repeated complaints related to property work. A resident reported that earlier tree-related work had prompted complaints and visits from the building department, and that a later landscaping cleanup resulted in another complaint and another visit that officials allegedly described as unnecessary. The resident further reported that a neighbor later confronted and yelled at landscapers about what work could be performed on the property. The resident requested police document the situation due to concerns about ongoing harassment. Clark documented the report and advised the resident on appropriate follow-up should the situation continue.
Dec. 12
12:35 p.m. — Officer Charles Sweeney responded to Evans Road Extension after a resident reported being allegedly scammed by an individual posing as a customer service representative for an investment platform. The resident reported searching online for a customer service phone number, calling it, and then providing sensitive personal and banking information during the conversation. The resident said they became suspicious when the individual instructed them to withdraw $4,000 from an ATM. Sweeney documented the report, noted the resident contacted their bank and that accounts were frozen as a precaution, and advised the resident to contact the investment platform directly using verified contact information and to monitor credit due to the reported compromise of personal information.
Dec. 13
11:21 p.m. — Officer Robert Picariello responded to West Shore Drive for a reported hit-and-run involving property damage in a parking lot. Picariello met with the owner of a parked vehicle, who reported the vehicle had been struck by another vehicle backing out of a nearby parking space, causing damage, and then leaving the area without stopping. Picariello also spoke with a witness who reported capturing a photograph of the departing vehicle’s license plate. Picariello documented the witness statement and attempted to contact the registered owner of the alleged striking vehicle but was unable to reach them at the time the report was completed.
Dec. 14
1:13 p.m. — Officer Charles Sweeney responded to Atlantic Avenue for a reported hit-and-run involving property damage to a parked vehicle. Sweeney met with the reporting party, who stated their black 2020 Range Rover Sport had been struck on the front left bumper while parked and that the striking vehicle left the area without stopping. The reporting party said a bystander reported seeing a red Toyota Camry back out of a nearby parking space and leave the scene but was unable to provide a license plate number. Sweeney canvassed nearby businesses between Barnard Street and Commercial Street for exterior surveillance cameras but did not locate footage capturing the incident. He documented the report and completed the related accident paperwork while the alleged striking vehicle remained unidentified.
