The following news summary is based on selected Arlington Police Department logs from Oct. 16 through Oct. 23, 2023.
Arrests: A routine traffic stop at 9:13 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, resulted in the arrest of Raul Rojas Norena after officers discovered that the driver had three active arrest warrants, two in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire. The suspect, a 36-year-old East Boston resident, was traveling southbound on River Street near the intersection with Warren Street when an officer clocked him at nearly 40 mph in a 20-25 mph. zone.
After conducting a stop, the officer determined that the car showed no front license plate, that the rear plate that had apparently been transferred from a different vehicle and that the car's registration had been canceled. The suspect, who carried a Colombian passport and a Colombian driver's license, spoke only Spanish, but the officer was able to question him using a Google translation app. After a tow truck arrived to remove the car, the suspect was handcuffed and placed under arrest.
During booking at the station, Norena was cited for speeding and license plate violations. It was noted that the three warrants and the Mass. License were all under different versions of his full legal name. The suspect was later released.
Tuesday, Oct. 17
10:05 a.m. – Accident with Injury. A male driver lost control of his vehicle on Lowell Street and rammed a tree, badly damaging the car's front end. Police arriving on the scene noted tire marks indicating a lane violation. The driver, who appeared shaken up and was possibly suffering upper-body injuries, was driven to a local hospital for examination, where he was issued a citation for negligence. Because he was found to have previously received a similar citation, he is now considered an “immediate threat” and will be reviewed by the state for possible license revocation.
12:26 p.m. – Larceny over $250 with False Pretense. A Clyde Terrace resident contacted police claiming that she was the victim of a “contractor scam.” She said she had contacted a contractor to do chimney work, but that, after coming to terms and writing him a deposit check, the man failed to show up or to answer his telephone the following week and a half. Police later succeeded in contacting the contractor, who said that he hadn't started the work because there had been a death in the family.
6:45 p.m. – Suspicious Activity. A Rhinecliff Street resident was at work when a Nest security device at her house sent an alarm to her phone reporting a prowler on her property. The device provided video showing a young man in his 20s looking fixedly at the house and then walking around to the back by the cellar door. There was no indication that the man had tried to enter the house. After she called the police, the homeowner discovered that she could not upload the video. If and when the police receive said video, they will attempt to identify the man, the report says.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
9:57 a.m. – Larceny over $250 from an Elderly (60+) Person. A Palmer Street resident's daughter called police on her mother's behalf to report that a utility check the mother had mailed had apparently been stolen from the post, washed of its ink and then rewritten and cashed by a different party. When daughter and mother tried to get help from the bank, they were told there was nothing the bank could do, they said. The matter is under investigation.
5:37 p.m. – Auto Theft. A woman leaving work at the Leahy building on Broadway found her 2020 Kia Sportage missing from the building's lot. When police arrived, they noticed that the vehicle adjoining the missing car's space had a smashed rear window and other damage. Upon tracing that car, they found that it too had been stolen. It appears that a car thief dropped off one stolen car and then took off in another.
Thursday, Oct. 19
10:57 a.m. – Shoplifting. A store camera at a Walgreen's in town caught two teens apparently taking candy and concealing it before walking out the door. Police intend to try to identify the suspects, according to the report.
3:12 p.m. – Bicycle Larceny. Two 14-year-old girls reported that their mountain bikes and helmets had been stolen from a public bike rack near the bike path off Mill Street. The girls had gotten into the habit of leaving their bikes locked there during school hours. Police are investigating.
6:34 p.m. – Violation of Town Bylaw. A Bartlett Street resident contacted police worried about a safety issue at a nearby construction site. The resident was concerned that there wasn't adequate late-afternoon lighting at the site, that one of the workers could get hurt and that the lack of lighting violated a town bylaw. When police arrived they found the men were fine and packing up for the day. Police later determined that there is no such bylaw.
Saturday, Oct. 21
12:10 a.m. – Motor Vehicle Accident. A car driven by a woman crashed into a street lamp on Mystic Street. When police arrived, she was still in the car. Although complaining of chest discomfort, she declined medical treatment. Upon explaining that she had taken her eyes off the road while trying to phone her son, she received a citation for negligence. Because this was not her first negligence citation, she was classified as an “imminent threat” and may be subject to losing her license.
Sunday, Oct. 22
2:10 p.m. – Animal Lost & Found. A pedestrian passing by the Church of Our Saviour on Marathon Street noticed what looked like an animal carrier on the church's front steps. Approaching and peering into the handled case, he found a cat (color/breed not given in the report). After he called 911, police came and escorted the feline away. As of Wednesday, Oct. 25, it was still in temporary residence at the station; an Animal Control Officer is trying to arrange a more permanent and comfortable living arrangement.
July 18, 2023: Local man pleads guilty to enticing minor in sex-sting case
This news summary by YourArlington volunteer writer Chris Wilbur was published Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, based on information from Arlington Police Department daily logs and explanations from Capt. Richard Flynn of the APD.
