Police Log Roundup

Nautical Thief Hits Mount Hood

Tuesday, May 18, 10:40 a.m.: Police received a report that a frame and a cover for a boat were taken out of the back garage located at Mount Hood. The items have an approximate value of $2,000, according to Melrose Police Lt. Mark DeCroteau.

Pysch Patient Walks Away from Hospital

Wednesday, May 19, 3:01 p.m.: Melrose-Wakefield Hospital staff alerted police that a patient in pyschiatric care had walked away from the hospital's emergency room. After being given a description of the patient, Melrose Police located the man approximately 15 minutes later on Upham Street, DeCroteau said. The man voluntarily returned to the hospital.

GPS Device Stolen From Ambulance

Wednesday, May 19, 10:28 p.m.: Melrose Police received a report that a GPS unit had been stolen from an Action Ambulance van at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. DeCroteau said police are reviewing video surveillance footage of the emergency room as part of the investigation.

Shaw's Strike Leads to Hiring of Detail Officer

Thursday, May 20, 4:59 p.m.: Picketing Shaw's employees demonstrated outside the Shaw's Supermarket in Melrose; police received a report of 15-plus strikers on site and that the store manager was arguing with the union representative.

DeCroteau said the demonstrations have usually only been comprised of five or six Shaw's employees, but in this case, the argument led the Shaw's manager to hire a police detail to stand post at the supermarket. 

"They normally just peacefully walk up and down in a public area," he said. "They're entitled to under the law ... there's been as little as one or two people. They're actually not supposed to stand stationary, they're supposed to move at all times. They can't impede any pedestrian traffic by standing on the sidewalk. It's been generally peaceful at each (demonstration)."

Bicyclist Hits Car on West Wyoming Avenue

Thursday, May 20, 7:02 p.m.: A bicyclist riding down the sidewalk on West Wyoming Avenue and headed east attempted to cross the street, according to witnesses cited in an accident report filed with Melrose Police. The bicyclist struck the side of a vehicle traveling west down West Wyoming Avenue. He was transported by ambulance to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

Teen In Woods Transported to Hospital

Friday, May 21, 1:47 a.m.: Melrose Police received a complaint about loud youths in the woods near Flagg Acres off Swains Pond Avenue. The officers who arrived on scene encountered a group of young men, between the ages of 18-20, helping another young man who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance out of the woods, DeCroteau said. When officers examined the man in a lighted area, they noticed scratches on him and called an ambulance, which took him to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

More Late-Night Problems in Swains Pond Area

Friday, May 21, 2:32 a.m.: Not long after the above incident, an officer on patrol notivced several trash cans knocked over on Swains Pond Avenue. The officer saw someone walking down the street and approached him. The 20-year-old Melrose resident said that he was on his way to see somebody who had been recently taken to the hospital. After continuing on, the office saw the man throwing a leaf bag into the street. The man was placed in protective custody and does not face any charges at this time.