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Marblehead Police Log

2019-10-04T09:06:13Z

Some mildly amusing police log reports from the centre of mild amusements, Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Thursday Sept 26

12:45 p.m. 911 caller said that overnight someone sprayed his house/door with skunk smell. saying that over night someone sprayed his house/door with a skunk smell. He said the smell was overwhelming. Officer responded and said upon further review, skunk actually sprayed the residence.

4:29 p.m. Bessom Street caller reported a male with a blue shirt and big belly who appeared to be intoxicated walking around a vehicle smoking a cigarette. Police stated there was no problem, male was not drunk. He was having a cigarette while waiting for his dog to be groomed.

Friday, Sept. 27

9:44 a.m. Caller said his daughter is at college but parked their Honda CRV on Mugford Street three weeks ago and now he couldn’t fine the car. Officer will check the area.Mugford Street is not that long.

6:18 p.m. Highland Terrace caller reported particulate filling up home from an outside chiminea. Police said it was an outside fireplace to cook food and there was no problem. So what the hell is a "chiminea"?

Sunday, Sept. 29

12:12 a.m. Caller said they were staying at an air B&B and someone came in and was causing a disturbance. May be the son of the owner, they could not get in touch with the owner. There are 5 guests in the house. Caller said they were locking themselves inside the bathroom. Females will find other arrangements for the night.

12:50 p.m. Complainant called back and was upset that the officer did not address the parking issue on Gerry Street. Officer was asked to return and check the signage. As he pulled up, the Jeep pulled away. Complainant was very upset and said friends of her neighbors park there without regard. The neighbors are rude to her and it’s a dangerous area that is narrow on the top of the blind hill. She felt the police ought to be more familiar with signage in area and is requesting enforcement. Here's a local tip: The HQ of the constabulary is ON Gerry Street. They ought to know the area fairly well.

4:37 p.m. Husband found a long sword in the driveway; Pleasant Street. Next up: A horse's head in the bed.

6:07 p.m. Employee at Starbucks stated a male party was “harassing patrons” in the store. He was possibly drunk. Police responded. Male was on the patio and got a ride leaving the area.

8:01 p.m. Party stated a male had been sitting in an older style mini van for about an hour smoking cigarettes. She was concerned as her neighbors were away and referenced “the van that was used during all those break-ins". Police found no occupied vehicles in the area.

8:50 p.m. Verbal warning for loud objectional tire noises and failure to use a signal. Another mystery? What is an "objectional tire noise"? Is it like a whoopee cushion? Enquiring minds want to know.

Monday, Sept. 30

1:09 p.m. Reporting party stated she was driving on Atlantic Ave and passed what appeared to be a “10/12 year old sitting on the ground holding what appeared to be his knee.” She was unsure if he was injured and “was unable to stop due to traffic” to check on him. Police found no one in the area. "...appeared to be his knee"? I trust it was still attached to his leg.

1:43 p.m. Reporting party stated she had a male party come into her shop a few days ago and asked her to sign something as his friend (who worked there was not there. She stated she did sign the form, but after realized she did not know the man and now the form has her name and address on it. Refer To Incident. When a guy with horns and a tail comes for her soul in a few years, she'll know what she signed.

7:03 p.m. Starbuck’s employees reported kids kept going around shutting off the power from the alley behind the building. He stated that it was an on going problem and they caught a kid recently and spoke to his parent. Kids were gone prior to arrival - spoke to the calling party who said he would contact the owner of the property about possibly better securing the access.

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Marblehead Police Log

2019-06-07T08:54:38Z

I only see it on occasion, but there are a few interesting entries today.

Tuesday, May 28

11:39 p.m. Caller said her son called her yesterday to say there was a man on the property. He snapped a photo of the man and asked his mother if he was a gardener. She did not recognize him. He said the man told her he heard waves and wanted to see where they were coming from. He asked the man’s name and was told it was irrelevant. My name is "Irrelevant". Hello, Mr. Irrelevant!

3:04 p.m. Caller said he received a call from someone claiming to be his son. The person who called initially said he was John Marlin,an attorney. The story was that his son was in and accident and got caught using his phone. He needed $6,000 sent to him. Caller went to the National Grand and withdrew the funds. He said he thought about it and then someone from the bank told him it was a scam. Caller asked the man who said he was his son what his birth date was and the caller couldn’t tell him. He was not out any money.
3:43 p.m. Walk in reported that someone cut tree branches from her tree without her permission. She said she thought she knew who did it and she was afraid of him. I am always mystified at people who don't recognise the voices of their closest relatives.

Wednesday, May 29

10:27 a.m. Woman applied for a job online and was hired. She said she recieved a check in the mail for “office supplies” and she thought it was a scam. She had not deposited the check and wanted it on file that it was a scam. Her info was not compromised.

1:01 p.m. Walk-in to Central Fire requested his ring be cut off as he was bloated and couldn’t get the ring off. Just one thin mint, Mr. Creosote?

6:33 p.m. Caller reported that across the street from her house, there was siding swinging from the house and it looked like it might come down. She was afraid that it might land on someone and the residents there have young children. Police said it was Tyvek and not an issue.

10:12 p.m. Party stated she could hear what sounded like “steam venting” from somewhere. She wasn’t sure if it was outside or in but said she searched her house and found nothing. Police checked inside and out and found nothing as well. Caller satisfied.

Thursday, May 30

4:06 a.m. Caller reported an elderly male walking down the street who looked confused. White male, long sleeved shirt, khaki pants, white hair. His home was located and he was returned home.
9:08 a.m. Caller reported she drove by and noticed an operator inside a Maxima slumped over the wheel. She felt someone should check on the operator. Officer reported it was a male and he was awake, playing a game on his phone.I wonder if he was winning.

2:05 p.m. Gregory Street walk-in reported someone stole her black cracked iPhone 5 from her vehicle. She did not wish to speak with an officer and only wanted the incident documented.I suppose she was a bit pitying of the person who was stealing cracked phones.

9:18 p.m. A woman housesitting said she kept seeing a bright strobe light but didn’t know what it was or where it was coming from. It was a faulty floodlight. Engine 1 crew assisted her.Must not have been a very powerful floodlight. More like a leaklight.

11:02 p.m. Caller reported that a neighbor “threatened to kill her” by “pointing his finger in the shape of a gun” at her. She stated that it is an on-going issue and he recently threatened her boyfriend because he thinks that her boyfriend was involved in the theft of his Ducati. Both parties were spoken to. Both advised. Woman called and advised that now her neighbors were calling her on her land line and threatening her. Police responded again and both parties were advised again.Don't you point that loaded finger at me!

Friday, May 31,

7:49 a.m. Resident stated that when they went out to bring in the trash barrels they found one stolen. They thought police should know in case it happened to anyone else.

8:05 a.m. Caller from the bank complained about a truck parked on the corner of Sewall and Jersey streets for three weeks. She said the truck was filled with trash and an old tree, which she felt was a fire hazard. She was concerned that if someone threw a cigarette butt into the bed of the truck not only would the trash burn but so would the truck itself and the house it’s parked next too. Bike officer reported the truck was legally parked with an old Christmas tree in it. Dispatch sent an email with a message explaining the concerns and a request to dispose of the tree.

11:32 a.m. Caller said he was ripped off by a paving company. He said they were still working, he didn’t know their name. Off.Roads reports that flagged these pavers down and they did not solicit the work. They have agreed upon a price and all parties are satisfied. Stanley & Crew have left the area.

12:32 p.m. Woman said she was verbally abused at a local restaurant and she wanted to file a report. Police said no threats were made. They would speak to the other party involved.There are restaurants where people pay extra to be abused verbally by the staff. Perhaps they now have a Marblehead branch.

2:04 p.m. Green Street resident reported there was a stop work order in effect on a worksite but the Gas Company was there the previous day putting in a gas service. Neighbors called to complain the previous day and were told it was a gas leak. Caller said the neighbors were up in arms and have sent pictures to their attorneys.

3:27 p.m. Leggs Hill caller said there was a motor vehicle parked on the curb that had two kayaks on top. Caller was trying to prevent the problem of vehicles parking in the area, in addition it was blocking the curb. Caller didn’t want to identify himself. Man was looking for something, he said he’d be back to move it.Looking for a body of water to row the kayaks in, perhaps? Maybe Mr. Irrelevant above could show him the way.

4:52 p.m. A grandmother called and stated her granddaughter got word of a disturbing Instagram post about her and she was very upset about it. Report was taken.

6:22 p.m. Broughton Road caller reported there was an older white male in a Jeep with Virginia plates taking pictures of children. She reported that when approached by an adult he hid his face and drove off. He turned left on Humphrey Street. Caller also had a second witness with her that reported seeing him taking pictures of children. Swampscott advised to stop and hold and ID until Marblehead gathered more information. Officer spoke to witnesses that thought he was taking pictures of property and that he never had any interaction with kids. State Police heard the radio transmission and wanted Marblehead to be aware of certain info. Swampscott officer said last incident they had was two night ago. Officer also reported that he had a tripod set up with a camera and was flamboyant, drawing attention to himself wearing a sombrero and playing guitar. He was reportedly on foot. Lynn Police contacted and they will send a car by his address.Sombrero? Guitar? Perhaps an illegal immigrant from Down South.

Saturday, June 1

6:10 a.m. Caller reported she had an uncontrollable water leak inside her unit and needed assistance. She stated she did contact someone from the Housing Authority, but she was unsure how long it would take for someone to respond. Engine 2 responded. Valve was shut off prior to arrival.

12:14 p.m. Realtor called to say she was having an open house on Brookhouse Dr. She said a female came into the open house and she was so under the influence, she couldn’t function and she didn’t speak. She then exited the house, returned to her car where she proceeded to smoke, then left the area heading toward Humphrey Street. Seen turning inbound on Tedesco.

12:20 p.m. Caller said 15 minutes prior a girl shoplifted a jacket. They had no idea where she was but had it clearly on video. Female, 5-foot, 5-inches, hair up, American College sweatshirt and shorts. Police checked area and cut up with her at a salon and said they would all meet at Bobbles & Lace.The police "cut up" with her? Sounds like misconduct on official business.

12:34 p.m. Man in a green pickup was cursing at the drive up window. Caller said the man appeared to be upset that the bank was closed. Caler was concerned he might do something and ask that a unit check on him. Police spoke to reporting party. Police checked area but found nothing.Cursing at a bank? Who knew?

5:06 p.m. Director of Nursing reported a bottle of methadone missing, then called back to report she found it.

10:47 p.m. Party stated two parties were inside a boat with flashlights and they “ducked” when a car came by. She also reported hearing a zipper being zipped. They were described as two males, late teen-early 20s, on in sweatpants and hoodie, the other in a goldish sweatshirt and dark shorts. Police spoke to boat owner and later did a walk through the boat with him. He stated everything appeared in order and nothing appeared to be missing.She must have been pretty close to hear a zipper being zipped.

Sunday, June 2

4:42 p.m. Report of odor of gasoline in home from a vehicle in a driveway next door. Officer was looking to make contact with owner of vehicle. Owner contacted and said he would move the vehicle. Party was satisfied.

Monday, June 3

10:14 a.m. Walk-in reported she lost a gray cosmetic bag, which contained a bracelet and necklace, she believes it’s been missing for 2 or 3 weeks.No haste needed, then.

12:16 p.m. Caller reported multiple vehicles parked facing the wrong direction. Police responded. Work was being done on Gallison and the vehicles had no where else to park and they were not impeding traffic. Also all vehicles were legally parked and were facing the right direction.

4:03 p.m. Lucia Road caller was upset about the traffic being rerouted down her street. She stated that she works from home and she was told by an office they would be done by 3:30 p.m. and she was tired of it. She asked if traffic could be rerouted down Gerald Road instead. She was advised that it was a public street and police couldn’t prevent traffic from going down her street. She was advised that if speeding was an issue police could address that, but not cars driving down the street. An officer monitored the area for speeders.

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Marblehead Police Log

2019-04-20T21:47:40Z

Yes, it's been a while since we had an entry from the Marblehead Police Log. There are some doozies in here.

Tuesday, April 9

8:06 a.m. Blast detail on Front Street.

12:30 p.m. Caller stated an MBTA bus took out a piece of her property and continued down Franklin Street. She has contacted transit police who are also responding, but she would like police to respond as well. Officer responded to assist.

5:46 p.m. Car versus tree on Lincoln Avenue. One taken into custody and transported to Salem. So was the car or the tree transported to Salem?

Wednesday, April 10

8:32 a.m. Woman said she has been financially betrayed and wanted to speak to an officer. Her money turned her in?

9:54 a.m. Caller reported a gallon jug in the road with a brown substance in it. DPW was to pick it up. Little brown jug, anyone?

Thursday, April 11

7:55 a.m. Facebook post from 7 a.m. stated that overnight two white Adirondack chairs were stolen from her front yard. She reported that they were “less than a year old, very heavy, nonfoldable, and cumbersome.” She stated they left one broken and rotting Adirondack chair in the yard.

9:22 a.m. Male was out front with his sign. Officer spoke with him. Walk-in reported that he looked “disturbed” and was walking by the Chinese restaurant. Caller felt he might have a confrontation with someone. Officer spoke with him and said it was the usual. The usual? Shades of Casablanca!

2:58 p.m. COA driver reported an intoxicated male trying to get in his car. Salem Taxi won’t come and get him because he hung up on them earlier. Witch City picked the person up.

4:29 p.m. Caller reported a green and yellow sports car followed them from Salem to their house yelling obscenities at them. They didn’t know what they did to cause the driver to act as he did. Police checked area but were unable to locate the vehicle.

8:47 p.m. Caller reported car stolen. Keys were inside. Update from the caller was that her brother took the car after an argument. He might have been intoxicated. Officer spotted man fitting the description of suspect on Elm Street. Car was located on Mugford Street. Caller didn’t want to pursue anything.

Friday, April 12

9:51 a.m. Caller reported suspicious activity, said a black male was walking down the street looking to every car along the way. Last seen on Atlantic heading towards Shubie’s. Police checked area and found nothing showing. Walking while black...

12:31 p.m. Port-a-potty truck was leaking something. Police said it was fresh water, they turned off the hoses. So how did they determine that it was fresh water?

Saturday, April 13

12:26 a.m. Caller stated a male party was laid out on the sidewalk on Pleasant Street. One transported to Salem.

1:08 a.m. Caller reported two males wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants had been throwing beer cans at vehicles. Males took off heading towards Waldron Street. Police responded to the area. Parties gone on arrival. No reported damage to vehicles.

11:28 a.m. Caller reported Comcast solicitors with no badges, no literature. Male had ginger hair, short, beard/facial growth, dungarees and jacket. Had a hand held computer tablet. The female was well dressed but didn’t say a word, she just stood there and smiled. Downtown units were advised.

2:57 p.m. Walk-in reported that a male has been contacting her neighbor in an effort to mediate between him and her. She also said he told the neighbor that he had “been patroling” the commuter lot in Swampscott where she parks to see if she was there.

4:27 p.m. Party relayed that while driving inbound on Atlantic Ave. the driver behind him was tailgating him and at some point passed him on the left-hand side and spat at his window in

6:44 p.m. Party stated a male walked up to her and knocked on her window then proceeded to “stumble almost falling” while walking away. Caller stated he might be getting into an Uber, but requested that “someone come down here quick and get him” as they believed he was drunk. Police unable to locate.

8:11 p.m. Caller stated that he saw an older female outside his residence but didn’t know who it was. He had seen her before “wandering” the area. Police unable to locate at the time. I suppose this was walking while old.

Sunday, April 14

2:25 p.m. Female called upset and nervous that someone was banging loudly on the door. While on the call she was able to determine it was an ice cream delivery man and she said everything was ok. I've often wanted an ice cream delivery man to knock on my door. Two quarts of peach, please.

10:23 p.m. Pleasant Street neighbor was complaining about an individual out front on Washington Street causing a disturbance. Caller state he blew smoke in her face and told her to call the police if she didn’t like what he was doing. According to the caller the party was not allowed to be on the property but there was no trespass order in effect. Police said it was a civil dispute and both parties were advised. Smoke gets in your eyes.

Monday, April 15

2:20 p.m. Caller reported that she was approached by a male and female attempting to solicit a vacuum cleaning service. While she was talking to them, she began to feel uncomfortable and then declined the service. She stated the female was wearing a badge but was unable to see anything on the badge. Police checked the area and surrounding side streets but was unable to locate.

4:43 p.m. Caller reported a man standing outside smoking marijuana. Police reported no one outside. Subject left prior to arrival.

5:45 p.m. Walk-in complained that the barrels on Lighthouse Lane were overflowing and the seagulls were getting into it and making a mess. No one was working from Rec and Park.

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Happy birthday, legalmoose

2018-10-03T08:51:40Z

...and many happy returns of the day!

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The latest Marblehead Police Log

2018-07-03T14:52:08Z

Friday, June 29

8:27 a.m. - A woman told police she left left her car parked behind a liquor store and was hospitalized. She is now unsure of where the car is. Police told her to call the towing company, but she later was in the police lobby demanding to know where the car was. Again, she was given the towing number. She again demanded to know where the car was and police said she rambled about "how everyone is forcing me out." Police called the towing company, which did not have the vehicle. Her car was not towed, but was parked on another street. I've heard of losing your car keys, but an entire car? I think that the fact that she thought it was behind a liquor store says a lot.

12:42 p.m. - A man told police his house had been on the market for a few months. He said a few weeks ago a man walked around then knocked on the front door. He was "scoping the house," the man told police. The homeowner told police he told the man to contact the real estate agent. Scoping the house? Casing the joint, more like.

4:50 p.m. - A caller reported a man was "creepily" staring at young teen girls on the beach. When asked if he was touching himself, the caller said he wasn't sure, but that he was just being very creepy. When he was confronted by police he was sweating profusely and quickly left the area. Sweating profusely? Perhaps it was hot that day.

Saturday, June 30

12:05 p.m. - Caller said she lives near the bike path and there is a huge coyote there.

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Marblehead Police Log--Dunkin Donuts edition

2018-06-13T13:19:02Z

Well, it's been quiet in the Old Town. Until Monday, that is.

8:25 a.m. - Someone reported a truck appeared to leak some fuel and it may get into the drain system around Waterside Rd. and West Shore Dr.

10:27 a.m. - A caller said a vehicle started tailgating them all the way into Swampscott from Atlantic Ave. and Casino Road. Vehicle possibly occupied by four teens.

1:06 p.m. - Caller reporting he hears what sounds like gunshots or construction equipment. Said he head what sounded like about 20 shots. Turns out it was a contractor firing nails into concrete.

4:06 p.m. - Caller reported hydrant on Broughton Road was "using water." Water department said there was a water main break. Send the hydrant a bill.

5:37 p.m. - Person reports saw a male yell at a female with two kids around Sewall St. and Bowden St. The male left in a red painters truck.

8:23 p.m. - Dunkin' Donuts workers were threatened by a customer. The male, in his 20s, got mad because they were unable to make the beverage that his girlfriend wanted. He then threatened the staff and would meet them after 9 when they got out of work. He was wearing a "Punisher" sweatshirt. I guess the moral of the story is: don't irk a guy in a "Punisher" sweatshirt.

10:24 p.m. - Person calls to complain about people racing around the block and two people yelling at him.

11:32 p.m. - Person said two nights ago a Jeep followed him and threw water bottles at his car. Perhaps they were hinting the car needed a wash?

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A windy week in the Old Town

2018-03-10T15:40:17Z

There was quite a bit of wind in Marblehead last week. The constabulary were quite busy.

Friday, March 2

9:04 a.m. Caller reported the metal guard on a street light coming off. Electric Light said it would probably have to stay like that. Just like New Englanders: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
9:46 a.m. Captains Walk caller said a large trampoline just flew out of the yard. Isn't that what trampolines are for?

Saturday, March 3

8:48 a.m. Gas House Lane caller reported an exposed gas main. No leak but caller thought it hazardous. Caller also noted that the lane was full of debris and Fire wouldn’t be able to get down. I guess Gas House Lane is a good place for a gas main...
4:19 p.m. Party stated that sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. someone stuck a flyer for a student painting service in his mail slot. He thought it odd due to the time and because it was during the storm. He just wanted it noted.
4:42 p.m. Calling party reported a gold Honda driving stoned. According to the caller the driver slurred his speech and had slit eyes as they drove by. Police could not locate vehicle. Inscrutable...

Sunday, March 4

12:58 a.m. Caller stated the doorbell rang and the family didn’t answer but reported hearing a male voice yelling in the background. There was no one at the door upon checking. Police said it was likely a knock and run, checked the area but found nothing amiss.
8:53 a.m. Caller reported that she observed a male sitting on the front steps on Washington Street bleeding from the face, holding one shoe and talking to himself. She stopped to check on him and he tried to get in to her car. She got scared and drove off. Chief responded and one was transported to Salem.
8:21 p.m. Caller looking for advice on a previous incident that he said was happening again. Yesterday, upon the stair/I saw a man who wasn't there./He wasn't there again today./Oh how I wish he'd go away.

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Hot time in the Old Town this week: Marblehead Police Log

2018-02-23T17:09:31Z

I think that some of the entries this week really are over the top. None of this kind of thing happened when I was living there. Of course, that was 48 years ago and apparently things have changed.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

12:57 p.m. Caller said there were three men by the Info Booth holding up a sign saying “Ashes” and appeared to be giving out ashes for Ash Wednesday. Imagine that, giving out ashes on Ash Wednesday. And in front of the Info Booth too. The constabulary must be informed!

Thursday, Feb. 15

10:50 a.m. 911 call for smoke coming from a stove on Gingerbread Hill and caller could not shut it off. Don't tell me that the gingerbread men were burnt!

2:23 p.m. Caller said there was a woman tailgating her and wanting to fight. They were on Cypress then Maple to Humphrey and Cedar. While on the phone with police the other female got out of her car, approached the caller’s vehicle and said “do you want to f--- with me? Police took the alleged tailgater into custody for driving on a suspended license.

4:43 p.m. Front Street caller said he got a threatening phone call from the Veterans. Yeah, you know those Veterans. Always threatening.

Friday, Feb. 16

9:42 a.m. Resident called asking about how to safely dispose of full bottles of wine. She was advised to pour out the contents of the bottle, then throw the empty bottle away. Caller called back a few minutes later and stated she didn’t know how to open the cork tops. An officer was sent to assist. I know how I'd assist. Something to do with wineglasses. I wonder how the officer helped.

10:41 a.m. Officer came across a third grader on Smith Street. Called the school. The mother called him out for vacation. Student said he was going to Canada that day. On foot?

10:44 a.m. 911 caller said it looked like a passenger was holding a gun out the window of a motor vehicle on South Street that then turned onto Waldron Street. Caller reported it was a white male with a five day beard and he held a pistol out the window aimed at an officer’s house. Police stopped the car on Waldron Street. Males were using a drone and had the paperwork from the FAA permitting its use. Passengers were from Spain. Oh, those naughty Spaniards!

3:15 p.m. Caller said there were kids on the tennis courts at Seaside throwing things at the shed there and smearing things on the door. Police responded, Park & Rec. were notified to secure the shed. There was tennis equipment strewn about and glass on the courts. Kids smeared mud on the shed and threw tennis balls around, but there were no kids in the shed when they arrived.

7:19 p.m. Caller reported a male flagging down traffic for a ride then swearing when no one would assist him. Male was intoxicated and had gotten lost from his friends. Perhaps they ditched him.

9:37 p.m. Resident thought she could hear someone in her basement. All was fine, it was the sump pump coming from the basement. She should get in touch with the person who called the constabulary a while back reporting a clicking noise in her house. It was a faulty CD player.

10:58 p.m. Caller reported a car swerving over the double yellow line three times as she followed it through Lynn and Swampscott. Caller said the car was driving on the wrong side of the road in Lynn. Units were notified and located the driver at her home. She was in for the night and did not think she had been operating erratically.

Saturday, Feb. 17

9:39 a.m. Caller wanted to know why the gates at Chandler Hovey were locked. He was advised that it was the Rec and Park Dept. who handles the gates, not the police and they were not working that day. Officer double checked and the gate was locked. Police did not have the right key.

11:30 a.m. Caller said he was coming to town at noon for his mother’s funeral and he wanted to make sure there were no warrants and that police didn’t want him for anything. He was told the only problem there would be was if he didn’t behave. He said he would because it was his mother’s funeral. He was slurring his words when he called, which was around 8:20 a.m. I really can't comment on this one except to say that if I were his mother I'd probably have risen out of the coffin and smacked him silly.

10:25 p.m. Caller reported a black Ford pick-up that was operating erratically and passed her in the rotary near the Old Town House. Truck was last seen near Green Street on West Shore Drive. Five minutes later a man called stating he was being followed by the original caller and her husband. He stated there had been an altercation earlier and at one point the male party “attempted to get into the truck and punch” the Ford driver. Police will speak to second caller.

Sunday, Feb. 18

5:53 a.m. Caller reported a tree branch down on West Shore Drive. Tree Dept. was notified but an officer was able to move the branch from danger. The branch was in danger?

1:38 p.m. Caller heard three gunshots followed by a voice saying “oh yeah.” She believed the sound came from somewhere between her backyard and the grandstand at Seaside Park. Police reported that it was a potato gun that went off. What the hell is a potato gun? Is it a gun that shoots potatoes? Or a gun made out of potatoes? Enquiring minds want to know!

3:31 p.m. Caller said she believed a plow truck might have sent rocks into her vehicle causing damage. She wanted an officer to take a report. Police reported there was no damage to caller’s car. Caller just wanted it on the record that one of the plows had thrown snow and rocks all over the driveway and yard.

3:52 p.m. Farrell Court caller could hear an alarm sounding in area, possible in the maintenance office. Fire responded, but heard no alarm. Caller was able to follow sound to an area near the maintenance bay where inside a truck was a bag of old smoke detectors. Nothing like keeping old smoke detectors around in case one of them catches on fire.

4:39 p.m. Found wallet. Owner has been notified that it was brought to the station. Maine fake ID was in the wallet and it was shredded. Owner did retrieve wallet. Down Easters don't care whether their IDs are valid or not.

Monday, Feb. 19

7:31 p.m. Caller said they were having an ongoing problem with a male being on their property, at the sliding doors, damaging bushes and harassing them in general. Caller said the male was just standing at the slider and had knocked over items in the yard. Caller yelled at him to leave. Property manager will have male served with no trespass order. Caller would also like an officer to ask the male what he was doing on the patio, which is not easy to access.

Tuesday, Feb. 20

11:15 a.m. Pleasant Street caller reported a strange odor coming from the basement. Fire responded. Caller said she was in the basement and could smell something coming from one of the apartments. She said there is a strict no smoking policy and she knew it wasn’t cigarette or marijuana smoke but had no idea what it could be. Has old Uncle Dudley been seen lately?

12:33 p.m. Multiple calls that a truck on Commercial Street hit a pole, fence, a house and vehicles. Driver reported the gas pedal became wedged and he had some facial injuries. Commercial and Cliff were shut down, all the vehicles that were struck were unoccupied. Driver was transported to Salem. That's what he gets, trying to step on the gas with his face.

1:59 p.m. DPW reported there were kids fighting by the basketball court at Seaside Park. Police responded. Kids said one was intoxicated. Father of the kid who got punched in the eye picked him up. Report to follow.

2:22 p.m. Caller reported a truck speeding up and down the street four times then reversing at a high rate of speed. Truck stopped on Central Street. Vehicle was gone on arrival. The fifth time pays for all.

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Marblehead's latest Police Log

2017-12-14T09:31:10Z

The logs seem to be coming through more regularly these days. The star of this entry is the man on the railroad right-of-way. He was in quite a hurry, it seems.

Tuesday, Dec. 12

A citizen reported finding a lost credit card at the Marblehead Bank.

A caller reported a friend of a friend was at a Rowland Street home allegedly stealing snowboards. Some friend! I'd unfriend him or her.

A Farrell Court resident reported receiving a scam phone call. The victim said the caller pretended to be the woman's niece in jail and requested money for bail. Usually it's a grandson.

A caller from the Tower School reported there was a man on the Railroad bed with his pants down, "putting snow on himself." According to the caller, he then got into his car nearby, with his pants still down, and drove off. I suppose there was a hot time in the Old Town that night.

A caller reported the "W" in the Wick Pizza sign is hanging off from the building on Pleasant Street. I suppose the constabulary were going to get a ladder and tack the "W" back up then?

A caller reported a car driving quickly through the Devereux Street neighborhood. Going to get some snow, I suppose.

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Marblehead Police Log for Hallowe'en

2017-11-04T11:47:52Z

One of those weeks in the Old Town.

Tuesday, Oct. 24

7:12 a.m. State Police called with a complaint from a resident who said her neighbor has a rug that needs to be checked for hazardous materials. Rug was folded up and put in the hallway. I had a rug like that. It crawled off on its own.

11:52 a.m. Two walk-ins came into the station to report that there is an ongoing property dispute at their mother’s property on Mechanic Street. At some point the neighbors from Mugford Street came and claimed that they owned a portion of the property. An argument ensued where every member of the family from Mugford Street family, including boyfriends of the daughter’s, came out and yelled at the property owner. The dispute is actually in court but there is concern over how the Mugford Street family might take the outcome. They were advised to install cameras.

1:54 p.m. Fire alarms at Creesy Street. Fire reported nothing showing. Resident said she burned something then put on the the air conditioner and left for a business meeting. As one does.

3:20 p.m. Caller dialed 911 to report someone in the water screaming for help. The person then came out of the water and said he was fine, he was screaming because the waves were huge and he was having fun. He appreciated the caller looking out for him. Fun? FUN?

4:19 p.m. Caller reported that there was a “One Way” sign that appears to have been knocked down and people are now going the wrong way. Sign was knocked down and is propped up against the wall. Highway was notified.

5:03 p.m. Party stated that she and three other vehicles stopped to assist a male that fell off his moped. She stated the male refused help but was assisted regardless by the motorists. The caller stated that he “smelled heavily of alcohol” and she was concerned he might have gone into the wrong house. Police checked and the operator was fine, he got a flat on the moped.

9:31 p.m. Dog walker on Pleasant Street reported that the flower shop was wide open and the owner’s dogs were there. He was afraid to check the building and close the door because the dogs were not friendly. Police checked, said it appeared no one was there, put the dogs inside and tried to contact the owner.

Wednesday, Oct. 25

12:28 a.m. Caller stated there was a man at her door. He tried to open it with a key. Police said the man was staying at the Harborlight Inn and mistook the building. Again, as one does. There's a sitcom in this one.

5:09 a.m. Caller stated his neighbors are playing the drums deliberately to wake him up. Officers stated the cause of the drumming is the hard rain. Hard Rain--good name for a percussion band.

9:35 a.m. Caller said the trash truck went by and was still leaking oil. Caller took pictures and wondered what was going to be done about it. DPW was notified to put Speedy Dry on the spill and caller advised calling the Department of Environmental Protection regarding the spill.

11:17 a.m. Caller said that around 11 she saw a male she believes was Native American, walking from Green Street onto Turner Road with what she thought was a rifle wrapped in a green coat. Units found nothing in the area but would continue to look. Lady, the Nanapashemet tribe once owned Marblehead. They sold it for trinkets. I'd be running around looking for compensation myself.

2:09 p.m. Caller said a customer comes into the store every day. He said today he watched her take a $6.99 package of jerky. He said he confronted her who denied taking the item and left the store. That's expensive jerky.

4:58 p.m. Caller was following a drunk make that has fallen a few times and is having difficulty walking. Police unable to locate.

10:06 p.m. Walk in reported that his ex girlfriend has been texting him, emailing and driving by his house. He reported similar incidents in July. He will be going to court for an HPO and will call if she returns.

Thursday, Oct. 26

9:08 a.m. Walk in reported a past hit and run. Walk in said he was driving in bound on Pleasant and a white BMW cut him off, scraping the front end of his car. Walk in followed and confronted the driver who said it was the walk in who hit him and walked away. Police made contact with the other motorist, the pair exchanged info and the RMV faxed a suspension notice against the other driver and requested it be served in hand, which it was.

9:57 a.m. Caller last night her husband told her there was someone in the driveway with a spot light. She said she has a Blink camera above the mailbox, a Ring Video Doorbell and a Mr. Beams motion light outside, because she has a problem with raccoons. Caller said the man had a “giant light” and rang the doorbell. She felt he had no idea that he was on video. The man called out “Amazon package delivery” and left the package. She watched the video and he put his hand out as if he was trying to steal the camera. In the morning she checked the camera and the bracket was upside down. Dispatcher offered to send a dispatcher but she said she would not “entertain an officer” that Amazon would buy her a new camera. She offered to send the video and it appeared the driver went into the mailbox. She found a card in the mailbox but isn’t sure if it was from the driver. This whole entry is bizarre. Just wait until Amazon tries to land a drone delivery in her backyard. It'll get shot down.

10:28 p.m. Owner of Marblehead Village Market gave gave officer a stack of credit cards that have been left behind at the store. How thoughtful. Max 'em out.

10:33 p.m. Walk in asked to speak to an officer about a male party in their neighborhood whose behavior they feel has become increasingly erratic.

11:08 a.m. Caller asked to document an incident where he was blowing leaves in a customers yard and a woman came out screaming obscenities and waving a rake at him and giving him the finger over where he was piling up the leaves he had blown. The woman then went and moved the pile of leaves to another area. He tried to explain to her that he would return with his machine to suck up the leaves but,she wanted no part of that. He just wanted it documented if she continued to behave in this manner. Leaf it to the officer. Sorry.

11:30 a.m. Woman had totes of clothing taken some time in the past three weeks. She was advised to put up a camera and motion activated light. Entry is believed to have been gained through the unsecured bulkhead.

2:39 p.m. Caller heard what she thought were six shots coming from the Lime Street area. Call from a Light Dept. employee who said it was someone at the Green Street playground shooting off a Roman candle type device. Caller said she thought it was from the woods. Police checked and found nothing.

Friday, Oct. 27

2:17 a.m. Police reported that a dump truck driver working at a site saw a 12-year old out walking on West Shore Drive between the Garden Center and LaFayette Street. Is there a lower age limit for people walking along that street?

6:40 a.m. Report that a mulch pile on Woodfin Terrace “Is going good.” Engine 2 responded and knocked the fire down. We shall hear more of this. Stay tuned.

7:27 a.m. Clipper Way resident reported house was egged and screens were damaged.

9:32 a.m. Mulch pile rekindled at Light Dept. Fire Dept. responded. I get knocked down, but I get up again.

12:57 p.m. Report of golf clubs stolen on Tuesday

3:38 p.m. Anonymous female caller stated her son got a Snapchat of a group of kids fighting at Seaside Park and “one of them is all bloodied.” She didn’t want to identify herself or her son but she did identify the bloodied one. Officers went over the the park and spoke with kids who reported it was just a couple of friends wrestling.

3:58 p.m. Request to remove the crosswalk sign at Pleasant and Mohawk intersection as it’s severely damaged.

4:46 p.m. Walk in found a needle at the beach and dropped it off at the front window. Officer came in with sharps container.

7:04 p.m. Report of a woman on Peach Highlands covered in blood, walking but disoriented. Caller asked the woman if she needed help but the woman declined and walked into a house. Appeared to be a hit and run but the woman had no recollection of what happened. State Police reconstruction team was contacted and police located a possible suspect vehicle. Woman was transported and another woman was arrested on several charges including an alleged hit and run.

10:46 p.m. Small area rekindled on the backside of mulch pile. Foam and water was put on mulch. I get knocked down, but I get up again.

Saturday, Oct. 28

12:52 a.m. Two skull Halloween lights taken from a front yard on Rockaway. They were ripped out of the yard between 11 p.m. and just before 1 a.m. Caller just wanted to let police know.

7:30 a.m. Mulch fire on Woodfin Terrace. I get knocked down, but I get up again.

8:25 a.m. Caller reported she witnessed an accident at School and Pleasant streets. She offered herself as a witness but was ignored on scene. She feels the offending driver might have been impaired.

12:12 p.m. Tourist fell outside a building on Washington Street and has a pretty bad arm injury. Fire requested cruiser divert traffic around Washington Square.

6:47 p.m. Caller stated that around 3:30 p.m. she heard her doorbell and when she looked out the window she saw “a kid with a clown mask on.” She said the boy said ‘trick or treat’ and she said it’s not Halloween. The boy then stated “well candy for my troubles” and she said that she did not have any candy, again because it was not Halloween.” She felt that it was a bit strange for him to be out trick or treating at this time. She was informed to call if he came back or if she feels uncomfortable about the situation. Here comes Pennywise.

7:03 p.m. Party stated she followed a vehicle from the Minos area and watched it “blow by some kids in a crosswalk” and then “drive erratically, swerving” on the causeway. Police said they would check the area.

8:14 p.m. Humphrey and Tufts: Report of an erratic operator driving very slow and crossed the yellow lines a few times. Well being checks out.

8:59 p.m. Report of an underage drinking party in a vacant house on corner of Gilbert Heights Road. Police responded and found three who were released to their parents.

Sunday, Oct. 29

12:32 a.m. Bartender from the Riptide reported that he had a patron who had too much to drink. He took her keys and she went outside where she was causing a disturbance. Police responded taking one into protective custody.

8:29 a.m. Walk in reported that a person driving a red Corolla drove past her while she was on her bicycle and yelled obscenities at her. As one does.

11:34 a.m. Caller reported that his vehicle’s tire was slashed and he believed it happened the previous night. Police reported that the tire was flat on the passenger side and there was no way to prove that the vehicle was actually vandalized. They only wanted the incident logged and didn’t want a report filed.

2:29 p.m. Caller reported she observed a Caucasian male male stumbling around and he appeared intoxicated. Units spoke with man who was getting a sandwich and heading home. What was IN that sandwich, I wonder?

2:50 p.m. Caller reported a Caucasian female stopping traffic and swearing at them while screaming at people on the street. Units spoke with woman who was on her way to Salem. Salem has that effect on people.

Monday, Oct. 30

Lots of reports of downed trees and utility poles. Nothing to chuckle about here...move right along.

12:21 a.m. Caller reported hearing several explosions. Police report an unsecured screen door was the culprit and secured the door. If it's not an errant CD player, it's a screen door. No house is safe.

5:11 a.m. Caller stated something was banging against the front of the house. Police reported everything looked okay, there was extreme wind coming off the harbor.

Tuesday, Oct. 31,

6:18 a.m. Caller reported a young male walking in the middle of Tedesco Street. He thinks the person is in need of help due to intoxication.

8:11 a.m. Caller reported a man sitting in a sedan at the intersection of Prospect and Commercial streets. She said he has the trunk open and sometimes the car is on and sometimes off. Police had conversation with the man and he said he is waiting for a friend to come outside and it will be a while longer.

10:45 a.m. Costume parade on Elm Street.

11:05 a.m. West Shore Drive school called 911 to report there was no fire (alarm sounded). It was a chemistry experiment and they were evacuating. Engine 1 responded, requested fan to clear out smoke. The chemistry teacher should be moved to the English Department.

2:57 p.m. Caller got a piece of mail asking him to join a group. He was advised it is a legitimate group of neighbors. Watch out, Facebook!

5 p.m. Walk in said her team has made the first playoff game and in tradition the juniors would be “decorating” the houses of seniors. They wanted to let police know so they don’t get into trouble.

6:15 p.m. Arlyn Road resident reported two teenagers who were trick or treating but not wearing any costumes and were carrying backpacks. He thought that it was suspicious and wanted to report it. They must have been going out in hiker costume.

7:38 p.m. Report of an outside fire at the beach. It was a campfire and didn’t need to be put out.

7:51 p.m. Woman was home alone and someone kept banging on the door. She was advised that it is Halloween! She was concerned because it was loud banging and it didn’t sound like young kids. Police checked area and everything appeared in order. Those kids nowadays. Banging on doors on Hallowe'en demanding treats. Must have been a trick.

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More Marblehead Shenanigans

2017-08-23T13:39:28Z

Relatively benign this week, if you don't count the woman who doesn't know how to stop, the verbal fighting over a tree, the very noisy directorial début, and the burglary on Cod Almighty.

Thursday, August 17

Police responded to a report of a woman being harassed via email on Aug. 17. A voicemail was left by an officer for the man to stop the harassment.

A woman received both a citation and a verbal warning on the same day on Tedesco Street and Longview Drive for a red light violation. The second situation involved not stopping at a stop sign. This person seems to have difficulty in stopping.

An officer responded after a woman bumped her car into another. There was no damage on either car. The woman in the second car got out and started screaming at the driver, took her information, but wouldn't give her own. The reporter felt intimidated by the second driver and reported the incident.

A Yeti cooler was reported stolen from a man's boat on Salem Harbor. You mean there is a special cooler for Abominable Snowmen? Who knew?

An anonymous caller reported a man on Mechanic Court was yelling and screaming, and yelling racial slurs. It had been going on for 10 minutes. Officers responded. The man and his household were making a movie about the recent attacks in Charlottesville and the reporter didn't know that and thought that they were having an argument. Showing in all reputable theaters at some point.

Friday, August 18

A pedestrian was struck by a truck and transported to the hospital on Beacon and Green Streets. The hospital is not on Beacon and Green Streets. The hospital is in Salem. The reporter seems to have difficulty with location.

A woman reported a man going through her trash. She said she puts out her Amazon bags with all her credit card info on them. She will invest in a shredder and has yelled at the man to move along. She did not want a response. And neither do we.

Saturday, August 19

A woman called the department upset because "when she came in last week, the call was logged and that the newspaper brought out her complaint [in a police log] from 3 years ago and published it again. She apologized to the man who was involved today and was going to go to the paper to tell them it wasn't fair that they brought up her complaint from 3 years ago. So the police are responsible for a journalistic mixup?

Two neighbors on Pitman Road were reported verbally fighting over a tree. At least it was only verbal.

A boat was broken into on Salem Harbor. Tuna reels and other equipment were reported as stolen on a boat named the Cod Almighty. The Harbormaster has been notified. Great Balls of Fire!.

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Police Notes from the hotbed of exhibitionism.

2017-08-11T11:40:47Z

Here we go again. As one lady found out, Google is your friend.

Someone called police on Thursday around 11 a.m. to report a car that had "hovered" around the caller's property. The caller followed the car to Nanepashemet Street where the people got out and started jogging, which the caller found suspicious. Police found the joggers were friends of the caller's neighbor. The moral of the story: don't let your houseguests jog.

Someone walked into the police station to turn in a knapsack that fell off the back of a motorcycle as it was turning last Thursday around 5 p.m.

Police responded to a report of a suspicious white bag or package on Atlantic Avenue on Friday around 2 p.m. Officers found it was a bag of leftovers. Obviously, must be leftovers. They were left.

Officers took a report of a trash barrel on Village Street with a note for the trash men to take the barrel because there was a dead animal inside. The caller said the barrel was crawling with maggots. Hope you're not eating a meal.

A sailboat capsized in the harbor on Sunday around 2 p.m., stranding four teen passengers in lifejackets on a rock. The Harbormaster picked them up. I read the story around this. The water was quite choppy so the Harbourmaster used an inflatable to reach the teens. A very fine effort!

Police responded to a report of an older driver in a white Mercedes who got stuck on the beach on Gas House Lane on Sunday around 9 p.m. when "looking for 114." 114 is the number of the fastest route out of town. Just sayin'.

Officers took a report of a swastika graffiti'd on the softball field on Humphrey Street on Monday around 11 a.m. This is serious stuff, and the constabulary is following it up very well.

Police took a report of a man in a gray car who reportedly pulled up alongside a woman walking in the area of Ocean Avenue, and told her he was an exhibitionist on Tuesday around 6 p.m. He asked if she "wanted to watch," and she told him she didn't know what he was talking about. The man told her to look it up, and when she did she said it was inappropriate, and he drove off. Most exhibitionists don't ask the permission of their victims. This one was quite kind, in a way. And Google was her friend.

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Police logs from around the North Shore of Eastern Massachusetts

2017-07-25T13:35:36Z

It's not only Marblehead that has amusing reports of the constabulary interacting with the citizenry. Here's a summary by town/city.

MARBLEHEAD

Officers took a report of a lost fanny pack on Pleasant Street last Thursday around 9:30 a.m.

Someone reported a group of kids pushing a Crosby's shopping cart into the water at Crocker Park on Saturday around 2 p.m. The caller told the kids not to do it, but the kids said they would retrieve it. The Harbormaster was expected to get it out at low tide. Hm. So the Harbourmaster will be "getting it out" at low tide. Something to see.

PEABODY

Police responded to a report of a mattress that fell off the back of a rental truck and hit the car behind it on Veterans Memorial Drive on Saturday around 6 p.m., and was in the middle of the road causing traffic. Officers found that the car struck was driven by part of the group that rented the truck. I always wondered what caused traffic. Now I know it's mattresses.

SALEM

Police took a report of four kids who tried to pull a driveway market out of the ground on Barnes Avenue on Thursday around 9 p.m. The kids ran away before officers got to the scene. A driveway market. In the ground. Oh.

Police responded to a report of a dispute on Essex Street on Sunday around 6:30 p.m. Officers spoke to one of the people involved in the dispute, who said it was over $20 owed from two years ago. The person said he didn't know the name of the person he was fighting with. The first rule of Fight Club is: Always know the name of the guy you're punching to the ground.

Officers advised four teenagers to stay away from Taco Bell after an employee told police they were causing problems at the Highland Avenue restaurant on Tuesday around 4:30 p.m. The police are now dispensing health advice.

BEVERLY

Police responded to a report of a neighbor dispute on Friday around 7:30 p.m. on Apple Road after a person reportedly drained a cooler on a balcony, which then dripped onto the neighbor below.

Officers responded to a report of a woman swinging a stick at cars on Bridge Street around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. Police found there was no stick.But was there a woman? Enquiring minds want to know!

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This week's Marblehead Police Log

2017-07-13T18:57:18Z

Here's the latest from the Marblehead Police Log, with mistaken identity and hanky-panky in inappropriate places.

The Harbormaster responded to a report of someone diving for clams off Devereux beach on Thursday around 10 a.m., and found the person was looking for lobsters and flounder, not clams. Well, that's all right then.

Police took a report of a phone call that showed up as a Marblehead resident on caller ID, but was "spoofed," and was actually a spammer on Thursday around 11 a.m.

A kayaker made it home safely after losing a paddle off the coast of Marblehead on Thursday around 9 p.m. Up the coast without a paddle.

Officers took a report of four fishing poles and three rods stolen from the back on a truck Friday just after midnight on Ocean Avenue.

Police took a report of a couple possibly having sex in a hammock in the area of Lighthouse Lane on Monday evening. When officers called the witness back, the caller said they just assumed they were having sex. Never assume, sir. It makes an ass out of you and me.

A lobster boat sank off of Tinkers Island on Tuesday around 1 p.m. A salvage company was notified.

Officers responded to a report of people possibly having sex in a car on Wednesday around 3 a.m. on Widger Road. Police moved the occupants along. Excuse me, but could you hurry up...the doughnut shop closes in 10 minutes.

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Marblehead Police Log

2017-06-30T10:39:06Z

It's been a hot week in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Police responded to a report of vessels firing cannons at each other on the harbor last Friday around 11:30 a.m. in honor of "Pirate Day." Arrrrrr!

Officers took a report of a person locked in the dump on Saturday around 4 p.m. I have heard of "Down in the dumps" but this takes the cake.

A driver saw a boat cushion fly out of a boat that was being towed in the area of West Shore Drive on Friday around 6:30 p.m. The driver took the cushion to the police station.

Police took a report of a driver that was approached while driving on Stramski Way by a black Mercedes, the driver of which got out of the car and asked if the caller wanted to get "[sic] up" and then hit the car with his fist on Friday around 10:30 p.m.

Someone called police to report teens drinking and peeing on the street in the area of Humphrey Street and Sevinor Road on Saturday around midnight. Officers found teens that said they had just left a graduation party. We only tossed our caps in the air.

Police took a report of a snapping turtle in the middle of the street on West Shore Drive on Tuesday around 7 a.m. The turtle made it onto someone's lawn. I wouldn't want to be the owner of THAT lawn.

A landscaper called police to report a woman harassing him on Wednesday around 2:30 p.m. in the area of Bayview Road, following him and filming him, saying he's killing the bees. Apicide isn't encouraged, but neither is stalking.

XXX, 73, of Everett, was arrested on charges of lewd, wanton, and lascivious conduct on Wednesday after police were called to Ocean Avenue on a report of a man fondling himself on the beach.

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Marblehead Police Log--Mooning a priest

2017-06-10T09:21:42Z

It's been a busy week in Marblehead for the constabulary.

Police took a report of a driver that went on a "tirade" against some cyclists last Wednesday around 8 a.m. after one of the cyclists asked him where he was going in the area of Front and Circle streets.

An officer picked up roughly 10 hypodermic needles on Thursday around 3:30 p.m. after a caller reported seeing them in the area of Winthrop Avenue.

Officers responded to a report of an SUV doing donuts at the beach on Ocean Avenue last Thursday around 10 p.m. I suppose that any report involving do(ugh)nuts might attract the attention of the constabulary.

Mr X, 23, of Marblehead, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest on Sunday around 9 p.m. after police responded to a report of a man rollerblading or skateboarding in an Atlantic Avenue church parking lot, mooning the priest after a confrontation. I don't suppose the priest was fazed by this. The information omitted from this report is that the church parking lot is directly across the street from the cop shop. They could hardly have missed it.

Officers took a report of an aggressive driver on Tuesday around 9 a.m. The caller said the drivers passed him over the double yellow line in the area of Lafayette Street, and got out at a red light, tried to open the driver's door, and screamed at him.

Police responded to a report of a group of kids smoking pot in the woods behind the school on Humphrey Street on Thursday around 7:30 a.m. The caller reported the kids were smoking cigarettes. Shouldn't make a difference. Lock 'em up!

A caller reported finding broken windows and glass in his backyard on Shetland Road along with lacrosse balls and hockey pucks on Thursday around 11:30 a.m.

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When faith meets crocodiles

2017-05-15T13:34:42Z

This may be fake news, sadly, but I do enjoy the mental image, so...

A pastor in Nigeria has come to a sad end. He attempted to walk on water across the Crocodile River (should have been a tip-off, that name) and ended up sinking and then becoming dinner for three crocodiles.

His parishioners could not understand it, as the pastor had fasted and prayed all week before attempting this feat.

Read it right here.

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North Shore Police Log

2017-05-09T11:11:00Z

I have expanded my range to cover the entire North Shore of Eastern Massachusetts, as there are quite a few interesting and, dare I say it, comical police log entries this week.

MARBLEHEAD

Someone reported finding a possible counterfeit $5 bill on Saturday around 12:30 p.m. on Pleasant Street.
Officers spoke to people on Ocean Avenue who were reportedly screaming at cars to slow down as they were driving by on Saturday around 11 p.m.
A person turned a comic book into the police station after finding it on Washington Street on Monday around 5 p.m. Some child was very sad that day.

PEABODY

A caller reported a large turtle in the road at Lynnfield Street on Friday around noon. The turtle was gone when animal control arrived.
Officers responded to a report of a middle aged bald man naked on Washington Street "waving his genitals at the pass traffic," on Monday around 9 p.m. Police didn't find any "males on the street lacking an appropriate level of clothing." I see. Police cover-up, no doubt.
Officers responded to a report of a cab driver trying to charge passengers twice as much because there were two of them on Tuesday around 2 a.m. on Hancock Street.
Officers took a report of a caller finding some bandaids in his diary on Wednesday around 5 p.m. on Aborn Street. To-do list: Get bandaids from pharmacy. Also, make sure that the trademark is respected.

SALEM

Police responded to a report of a man in a tree in the area of the dog park on North Street on Thursday around 8 p.m. Officers didn't find any man in a tree.
Officers took a report of a flower pot falling out of a window and hitting a parked car on Monroe Street on Friday around 7:30 p.m.

BEVERLY

An officer wrote a driver a parking ticket on Ropes Street last Wednesday around 1 p.m. The recipient told the police officer he was being disrespectful and acting like the president. Tweeted a picture of the officer with the caption: Sad. Beverly is crime-ridden and the police should be out catching criminals, not ticketing cars.
A man was told to stop feeding the wildlife, especially the coyotes on Tuesday around noon after received numerous complaints of the issue on McPherson Drive.

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That pesky police log again

2017-04-21T13:25:15Z

A caller reported a woman in a "hot pink outfit" jumping out into traffic trying to catch a ride near Jersey Street on Wednesday around 3 p.m. Officers did not find the woman. "Hot pink outfit". I suppose that makes a difference. If she were wearing a long black dress it wouldn't have been remarkable.

Someone turned in a set of Infiniti car keys with a house key attached on Thursday morning after they were found somewhere on Washington Street.

Officers retrieved a bike after it was stolen from CVS on Thursday around 3 p.m. A walk in reported that she saw a boy put a bike over her wall, said it was his and that he would be back for it. Police determined it was the stolen bike. The Marblehead Police, years ago, took my report that my bike was stolen. It took them months to determine that they'd found it and given it back to the kid who sold it to me.

Police made a driver go back and pick up his trash after he was seen littering in the area of Atlantic and Ocean avenues on Friday around 9:30 a.m. But the Marblehead constabulary, while not being the most efficient at getting used bikes back, are great at keeping the streets clean.

Officers took a report of a silver tray and square roasting pan missing from a Green Street home on Saturday around 11 a.m.

Someone reported a Maserati going 100 mph on Sewall Street on Sunday around 11 a.m.

Police responded to a report of a man hiding behind a tree on Pleasant Street around midnight on Sunday.

A caller reported a sound of tapping a Locust Street home on Monday around 2 a.m. Officers found that the sound was coming from a skunk. I always thought that skunks made their presence known in other, rather more objectionable ways.

Police took a report of a camp fire and "drinking party" in Steer Swamp, where there are bottle strewn around on Wednesday around 8 a.m.

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Marblehead Police Log from Holy Week

2017-04-13T17:13:17Z

Well, some of them have been at it again in Marblehead.

A woman reported losing $7,000 of cash in an envelope on Wednesday around 8 a.m. Why am I never around when $7,000 cash is lying around?

Someone walked into the police station last Wednesday around 8:30 a.m. with an item found on Devereux Beach he thought could be an explosive. Police asked him to take the item out of the station and leave it on the curb, and later determined it was a piece of fishing equipment. The fisherman went out with a bang, I suppose. At least it didn't go off in the police station.

A tree stump was misidentified as a person in camouflage last Thursday morning near Pleasant Street. That's better than a person being misidentified as a tree stump.

Police issued a verbal warning to a driver doing donuts in an Ocean Avenue parking lot last Thursday around 5 p.m.

Officers took a report of an Evans Road home and two vehicles egged, possibly around 3:30 a.m. on Monday.

Someone reported objects – possibly furniture – in the middle of the road near Gregory and Barnard streets on Monday around 2 p.m. Cardinal Biggles has been around again torturing people with soft furnishings, I'll bet.

Police responded to a report of two kite surfers in the water in Marblehead Harbor on Monday around 6:30 p.m. and one looking distressed. Authorities found that both parties were okay.

Have a great weekend.

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Cooking lately

2017-04-12T22:18:22Z

As I recover from my foot situation, I'm starting to pick up interest in cooking again. When you are confined to a wheelchair in a normal-sized kitchen, you have to cut, slice, dice, and the like on your kitchen table as the counters are too high for someone sitting down. Now that I can stand and walk about, I can do the things on the counter that I found difficult to do on the kitchen table.

So a few days ago I recalled that I had some avocados in the fridge. Yes, I know, I know, I shouldn't keep them in there. But they were ripe, perhaps even a bit too ripe, and I wanted them to be edible.

I have a wand blender that has a blending jar attachment. I use that for guacamole. So I tossed in a large slice of onion, the rest of the cilantro that I had lounging in the fridge, a spoonful of jalapeño slices with a glug of the liquid they were in, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper, a chopped tomato, and some olive oil. Blitzed them, then added the avocado chunks and blitzed them again. Just right? It wasn't until after I'd had some of a potato chip that I remembered. I'd left out garlic.

Every time I make guacamole I seem to leave something out. These are the dangers of cooking without a recipe. HWMBO and I enjoyed it and there's still some in the fridge waiting for tomorrow's lunch and dinner. Sometimes I leave things out of other things, too, such as saying "Thank you" or "I love you". That's not always as easy to repair as garlic omitted from the guacamole.

A danger of living with your spouse and not doing all the shopping is that you may end up with duplicates of the same thing. I bought bell peppers. HWMBO also bought bell peppers. I got a bit testy, then remembered that I could make stuffed peppers.

I found a recipe that didn't require the peppers to be stuffed then set in a pan of water in the oven. Here it is, kind of.

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 a large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
5 bell peppers, seeded, ribs removed, tops cut off and finely chopped
1 can of tomato sauce
1-1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes
Pinches of basil and oregano
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese, grated
olive oil to sauté

Set aside the peppers after cutting off the tops and seeding and removing the ribs. Chop the tops, and the onion. Mince the garlic.

Sauté the onion, garlic, chopped pepper tops, and the ground beef in the olive oil. Break up the beef while it's sautéing. Add the tomato sauce and stir to incorporate.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot full of water to the boil. Drop in the reserved peppers and parboil them for 3-5 minutes, or until they are soft but still somewhat al dente. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain.

Place the peppers in a bowl or pot in which they will stand up. Fill each pepper with the beef mixture. Top with the parmesan cheese and put under a broiler for a couple of minutes just to brown.

The advantage to this recipe is that the peppers will not get soggy and unappetising. The disadvantage is that they are a bit less authentic. My sainted mother used to use less ground beef and pad the filling with cooked rice. Depression-era-raised moms often clung to such practices out of habit, after the financial need had gone.

Last night while we ate our stuffed peppers, I mused out loud that I couldn't think of anything good to make for dinner tonight. HWMBO reminded me that he'd bought some beets on Saturday and gently upbraided me about wanting to make borshch for a while and then not using the opportunity. So that's what I did.

I topped, tailed, quartered, and scrubbed the beets and put them in salted water to cover and boil. When they were soft, I turned off the heat and let them cool for a while. I then put on my latex gloves and rubbed off the skins. That's much easier than trying to peel them before boiling. Then I put them back into the water and used a potato masher to partially crush the beets. My hand blender reduced most of the beets to purée. I added some tomato sauce, adjusted the seasoning, added around 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar (more or less to your taste), threw in a few pinches of dried dillweed, and put it in the fridge to cool down. When I served it, I put a spoonful of sour cream in the middle of each bowlful, some more dillweed, and a few soup croutons.

A friend who ended up in hospital through not giving himself the right dose of insulin called and asked whether I could provide dinner after he was discharged this evening. He had a bowlful of soup and thought it good, as did HWMBO a bit later. So even cold soup can be good for you.

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Passion Sunday

2017-04-02T19:53:56Z

It's usually not called Passion Sunday these days—it's the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel is long, and is the story of Lazarus returning from the dead.

This photo of Tomb of Lazarus is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The story of Lazarus is perhaps the high point of the Gospel of John before we descend into the passion, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. It prefigures the resurrection on Easter Day, and is one of my favourite Gospel stories.

Today in Church I was required to read the Gospel, and, as I always do, I choked up in the middle. I have been reading in churches for more than 50 years, and I am normally a good public reader—I have a loud voice, I can project it in most large spaces, and I can read with expression. I also know how to pronounce most of the difficult words that some readings contain.

But when I get to the story of Lazarus, I have to steel myself to get through it. I don't know why, but at the point where the shortest verse in the Bible comes I just cannot help myself. It's: "Jesus wept."

Jesus loved Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, but John says that he loved Lazarus too. When word came to Jesus that Lazarus had died (we aren't told from what), Jesus procrastinated for a few days. John says that Jesus wanted to show that he was the Messiah, the Son of God, and by raising Lazarus bring the disciples to belief. He says, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."

To me, this passage tells me everything I need to know about Jesus. I realise that many are not religious, or are not Christians, and I wouldn't expect everyone to believe as I do. But who cannot read this Gospel (John 11:1-44) without feeling the love that Jesus had for his friend, and his sorrow that he had been too late to keep him from death. Raising Lazarus is the ultimate gift that he can give his friend.

And who of us who has been recently bereaved, can read this Gospel without wishing for the same resurrection for their beloved friend or relative? It is an impossible wish, but we all wish it anyway, I'm sure.

When a friend or acquaintance tells me of his or her recent bereavement, I always say, "May s/he rest in peace, and rise in glory." The story of Lazarus is what gives me the authority to say this, and mean it.

We are now embarking upon the run-up to Palm Sunday and then Holy Week, with Easter Sunday on the horizon. Whether we speak of the resurrection of Christ, or the resurrection of plants and living things as Spring begins, we can recall that before a plant grows tall, it is a seed that the spring weather encourages to grow. When the plant grows seed and then dies, its seeds produce new life yet again.

I shall rejoice in the new life all around us, and in the life we enjoy in Christ. I trust that all of you will have a Springtime blessed with abundant life.

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Selecting Bishops in the Church in Wales and the Church of England

2017-03-27T21:15:34Z

When I first came to the United Kingdom, and began to be involved in the Church of England Diocese of Southwark, I often compared how things are done here with how things were done in the Episcopal Church. I was quickly made aware that what the Colonials do was not applicable to what is done here. So I stopped suggesting ways of being church that I thought were pertinent to the Church here.

Recently the Diocese of Llandaff in Wales found itself without a Bishop. So, the Electoral College for a Bishop was convened. Six people from the Diocese found themselves sworn to secrecy along with various Welsh bishops and the Archbishop's Registrar and Registrar's Assistant. They would elect a new Bishop of Llandaff in the utmost secrecy.

The people from Llandaff had decided that the Very Rev'd Jeffrey John, a serial "loser" in Episcopal appointment, would be a dandy bishop. The difficulty is that John, who is Dean of St. Albans, is an openly-gay man, in a civil partnership with another priest, though a chaste one.

The Electoral College could not agree on a name to be chosen as Bishop of Llandaff, and dissolved itself. The Bishops of Wales will now get together and agree a new Bishop among themselves. They have declared that all previous candidates will not get a look-in.

Except...except...someone snitched. A leak from the Electoral College proved crucial, since it was said that Dean John was the subject of homophobic and abusive speech within the College. It seems that, although the newly-retired Archbishop of Wales said that lesbian and gay clergy could be ordained deacon, priest, and chosen as bishops, his writ did not extend to Llandaff.

Dean John has gone public with a letter to the Welsh bishops complaining about his treatment within the Electoral College. The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, the senior Bishop while a new Archbishop is being chosen, would rather get after the person who leaked information from the College deliberations than condemn the homophobic remarks made in the meeting.

Dean John was chosen Bishop of Reading in Oxford Diocese (a subordinate Bishop) in 2003, but then-Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams forced him to resign the appointment since John was in a gay relationship. He was also one of those under consideration for Bishop of Southwark when it fell vacant some years ago. A leak from that meeting by the Very Rev'd Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, a leak made on Dean Slee's deathbed, showed that machinations from the Archbishops scuppered the choice of John put forward by the members of the meeting from the Diocese (the C of E method of choosing Diocesan bishops is similar to the one of the Church in Wales, at least in its initial phase).

Now it seems to me that the oxygen of publicity could assist in making the will of the Holy Spirit as regards Episcopal appointments manifest. The method of choosing bishops in Wales and England is secret, with nothing being officially said until the Queen's choice is announced by Downing Street or by the Bishops of Wales. It very much reminds me of the method of choosing scholars at Oxford and Cambridge to try out for the Security Services MI5 and MI6. Someone, usually a professor, invites them to his/her room for a sherry and suggests that they should consider a career as a spy.

The fiction that the Queen selects bishops is still maintained, even though no Supreme Governor of the Church of England has chosen a bishop on their own since perhaps Queen Anne's reign. So how should bishops be chosen?

The Church of England and Church in Wales both have synodical governance. That is, there is a legislature in each diocese and in the Churches as a whole. These synods approve budgets and accounts, set diocesan policy, and see that it's carried out by the diocesan authorities. In The Episcopal Church, each diocese holds a Convention once a year or so to do the same functions, and the Church as a whole has a General Convention once every three years.

When an American Bishop is to be chosen, the serving bishop calls for a special electoral convention to elect a bishop. A Nominating Committee is chosen and, after a suitable interval, several names of qualified candidates are announced. If enough of the electors wish, other candidates can be nominated from the floor of the convention.

Then a dog-and-pony show of the candidates tours the diocese so that Episcopalians in each area can meet the candidates and ask them questions. The Electing Convention then meets and votes in two Houses, the House of Clergy and House of Laity, for the candidates. When a candidate gets a majority in both houses, s/he is elected bishop.

It doesn't stop there. The Bishops with jurisdiction (Diocesan Bishops and the Presiding Bishop) are asked to give consent to the election. The Standing Committee of each Diocese (the Board of Directors equivalent) is also asked to give consent. A majority of each group must consent for the election to be valid. As Bishops are chosen for the entire Church, this process ensures that the entire Church believes that the candidate will make a good bishop.

All of these activities except for the Nominating Committee's deliberations are held in public. The dog-and-pony show is public. The convention is public. The consent process (at least the results of it) is public. If insults of whatever kind from whatever source are made, they are made and can be challenged in public.

Had the Church in Wales had a similar process, the insults aimed at Dean John would not have happened.

There are objections to opening up the Episcopal election process here in the C of E. One is that it would cut out the Queen and the Prime Minister from the process. Well, at the moment a Committee meets and selects two names to submit to the Prime Minister as candidates for Bishop. The PM selects the first one, and then communicates with the Queen, who appoints that person as bishop and then directs the Cathedral Chapter of that Diocese to elect him or her as bishop. There are penalties if a Chapter or a member of a Chapter does not vote for the Queen's candidate. Perhaps it's time to turn the tables and have the Diocesan Synod choose a Bishop and direct the Queen to appoint him or her.

National consent could be gained at one of the tri-yearly meetings of General Synod. Of course, this would also be a public activity.

Another objection is that it would reduce the C of E appointments process to a grubby election campaign, and that candidates who are good politickers would have an advantage over mere saintly candidates. Well, politicking goes on today; it's just sub rosa. The Archbishops keep a list of promising priests who they think are Episcopal timber. If you're on that list, the Archbishop's Appointments Committee can invite you in for "a glass of sherry and the suggestion that you might want to be considered as Bishop of East Gorgeous Diocese". I am certain that politics plays a large part in the composing of that list. Of course, it's all done in secret.

The American process does occasionally hit a sour note. The former Bishop of South Carolina did not get the required consents first time around. The Diocesan Convention resubmitted the candidate's name, and he got consents the second time around. A couple of years later this Bishop took the Diocese out of the Episcopal Church (there is currently a lot of litigation going on and he may be forced to return all the churches and property to the Episcopal Church as a whole). In addition, several bishops have been elected and consents gained, and then turned out to be crap at bishopping. Sometimes this has led to negotiations on a severance deal just to get the bishop to resign.

But, of course, the C of E process also turns out people who are crap at bishopping. They do it in secret rather than in public. Many have remarked that the Bench of Bishops these days is, with only one or two exceptions, filled with time-serving bureaucrats who cannot hold a candle to such luminaries of the past as Archbishops William Temple and Michael Ramsey. No appointments process will be perfect.

Publicity could have a large role in making the selection of bishops a process of which both the people and the Church as a whole can be proud.

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Marblehead Police Log

2017-03-04T13:49:58Z

Well, we have a few interesting reports from the Marblehead, Massachusetts constabulary.

Police took a report of a male driver in his 50s tailgating a woman with her children around Pleasant Street last Thursday morning and making "very lewd gestures" with his hand. Officers left a voicemail for the suspected driver.

XXX, 23, of Marblehead, was arrested on charges of malicious destruction of property, breaking and entering in the daytime, and larceny from a building last Thursday evening after a report of windows broken on Leicester Road.

Someone turned in a ring found near the swingsets at Devereux Beach on Friday morning.

Officers took a report of someone who mixed coffee with salt and "has now learned her lesson" on Saturday afternoon. And a valuable lesson it is, too!

Someone reported a porta potty had tipped over on Alden Road on Sunday around 11 a.m. and the caller was concerned that "kids will play in it." Officers responded to the area, but didn't foresee any children playing in it. Marblehead kids are hella smart. They know not to play in overturned porta potties.

Police took a report of a passenger refusing to pay for a cab ride because the driver closed the door on his hand on Thursday night. Officers told the passenger he couldn't refuse to pay for service. But the passenger could charge the cabbie with assault, no?

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Happy birthday, bigmacbear...

2017-03-02T08:56:17Z

...and many happy returns of the day!

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