The beginning of the new year prompts reflection on the events of 2017. The Item’s police log serves as a record of some of those events.
Here are some of our favorites entries from the past year.
To the police, thank you for all that you do.
Marblehead, Jan. 11
A report of suspicious activity at 10:14 a.m. Wednesday on Elm Street. An oil delivery man reported that when he made a delivery, there was a real sketchy man outside the residence he had not seen before. The man was pacing back and forth while talking on a cell phone. Police reported the man in question was taking down his Christmas lights and has lived there for two years.
Saugus, Jan. 17
A caller reported his car was stolen from the LA Fitness parking lot at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at 1450 Broadway. An officer reported the caller later stated that he forgot he took his wife’s car and everything was fine.
Marblehead, Jan. 21
A caller reported her neighbor had been running the washer and dryer for two hours and had not stopped at 12:22 a.m. Saturday on Watson Street. The caller indicated the neighbor was doing it “out of spite” and stated she had been having issues with that neighbor for the past few months.
Marblehead, Jan. 23
A caller reported her neighbors have been ignoring her “No Trespass” signs on her property at 10:53 a.m. Monday on Lincoln Park. She called back to state that in response to her “neighbors being spoken to by the police, they have lined potted plants up on the edge of the property” making it difficult for her to get in and out of her car.
Peabody, Feb. 4
A report of a road rage incident at 6:59 p.m. Saturday at 2 Johnson St. and 596 Lowell St. A caller reported the incident took place over stopping at a stop sign. The suspect reportedly threw hot coffee onto the victim’s lap. An officer spoke with both people involved and reported that coffees were thrown at each other’s vehicles. Both people didn’t wish to pursue the matter.
Marblehead, Feb. 11
A report of suspicious activity at 10:53 p.m. Saturday at Shepard Street and Evans Road. A caller reported there was a man lying in the road. The man stated he was fine and didn’t need assistance. He was wearing dark clothing and “looked like a trash bag.” The man was lying directly on the road and appeared to be in his 40s. Police couldn’t find the man.
Marblehead, Feb. 26
A report of a porta potty tipped over at 11:17 a.m. Sunday on Alden Road. A caller reported a porta potty appeared to be tipped over in the middle of the road and was concerned that “kids will play in it.” Police reported they didn’t foresee any children playing in it.
Saugus, March 24
A report of suspicious activity at 11:50 p.m. Friday at Cliftondale Congregational Church at 50 Essex St. A caller reported unknown people inside the church. Police reported it was determined that the gathering was a cub scouts meeting.
Marblehead, March 28
A report of neighbor harassment at 12:57 p.m. Tuesday on State Street. A caller reported she was being harassed by her neighbor constantly. She stated that when she passes her neighbor’s apartment, her neighbor opens the door and says “shame on you, you raised a terrible person.”
Marblehead, April 6
A report of suspicious activity at 7:56 a.m. Thursday at Pleasant Street. A tree stump was misidentified as a man wearing camouflage and scaring children.
Peabody, April 9
A report of suspicious activity at 1:41 p.m. Sunday at Lt Ross Park on Johnson Street. A person reportedly dressed as a fox was bothering the kids and parents at the playground. The 15-year-old girl was sent on her way by police.
Marblehead, April 16
A report of a couple all over each other at 7 p.m. Sunday on Ocean Avenue. A caller reported he witnessed a couple “all over each other and exposing themselves in the process.” He wanted someone to check it out and have them stop. The couple appeared to be in their late teens. Police reported the couple was leaving the beach and nothing was going on.
Marblehead, April 16
A report of a man hiding behind a tree at 10:38 p.m. Sunday on Pleasant Street. A caller reported he could “see a man hiding behind a tree and he has no business being there.”
Marblehead, April 18
A report of a person crying at 11:17 p.m. Tuesday on Barnard Hawkes Court. A caller reported hearing someone crying next door and said it happens often. Police reported it was possibly the TV.
Marblehead, April 22
A report of suspicious activity at 10:23 a.m. Saturday at Atlantic and Clifton avenues. A caller reported she might be overreacting, but a man asked for directions to the JCC and inquired about other synagogues in the area. She stated she got a “weird vibe” from him. The man was in his 20s, and had the hood up on his sweatshirt. The man had an accent that she described as “Eastern European.”
Saugus, May 2
A caller reported a raccoon was harassing a neighbor at 4:17 p.m. Tuesday on Birch Street. He further reported he felt as though he was in danger due to the raccoon being all over the neighborhood and climbing on houses. The animal control officer responded and reported the raccoon climbed up a tree.
Peabody, May 8
A report of a disturbance at 3:25 a.m. Monday at Extended Stay America at 200 Jubilee Drive. A caller reported a woman yelling for help and a naked man running around the parking lot. The manager reported the naked man came to the front desk and reported being locked out of his room, stating that he was “set up.” The room was registered to a woman. Police reported the man was not aware the woman involved was a prostitute and her pimp came and took her from the scene.
Marblehead, May 18
A report of suspicious activity at 7:24 p.m. Thursday on Ruby Avenue. Caller reports a person on the roof of a house on Ruby Avenue practicing karate. The house is a two-family gray house with red doors. Caller is concerned about his well being. Police report the person is practicing for a dance.
Saugus, May 19
A report of suspicious activity at 11:46 p.m. Friday on Bristow Street. A caller reported a man sitting on the bench screaming to himself. Police reported the man had headphones on and was singing.
Peabody, May 22
A report of suspicious activity at 12:55 p.m. Monday on Railroad Avenue. A man was reportedly carrying around a baseball bat on his shoulder. Police reported the 64-year-old man had found a bat and wanted to keep it for stickball.
Marblehead, May 28
A report of a band at a neighborhood party at 5 p.m. Sunday on Greystone Road. A caller reported there was a neighborhood party that night at his residence, and the band “Better Than Nothing” was playing. All of the neighbors had been notified, but he was afraid that if word got out that the band was playing, groupies may show up and make the gathering much larger than anticipated. He would call if he felt that was happening.
Peabody, May 29
A man was reportedly dressed in scrubs with a clown’s mask on, heading to Main Street on Washington Street at 2:36 p.m. Monday. The activity was reported as suspicious.
Marblehead, May 30
A report of a foul smell at 5:09 p.m. Tuesday on Barnard Street. Someone stated that it smells “like s–t” in the area of the fish market on Barnard Street. There was a second call on that from a business owner. A man stated he attempted to use bleach and soap to clean rusty chains from the harbor and that’s what the smell was.
Marblehead, June 7
A third grader reportedly saw a clown with a knife in the wooded conservation area while walking from school to his or her grandparents’ house at 2:49 p.m. Wednesday on Turner Road. Police checked the woods for the knife wielding clown, along with the school and surrounding areas, and were unable to locate anything. Police spoke to other people in the area, and no one else saw what was reported.
Marblehead, June 23
A caller reported hearing three gunshots at 11:31 a.m. Friday on Cliff Street. Police responded and learned from the harbormaster that it was “Pirate Day” on the harbor and that several vessels were firing cannons at each other. The harbormaster reported he would call the BYC and speak to them about not notifying anyone about the pirate festivities.
Saugus, June 27
A report of suspicious activity at 9:23 a.m. Tuesday on Smith Road. A woman reported that on Monday, two men, both with tattoos came onto her property, and attempted to use a porta potty next to her home. She stated her husband got into a verbal altercation with the men who then left the area in a car before police were called.
Marblehead, July 10
A caller reported a couple put up a hammock in Chandler Hovey and were having sex in open view at 8:38 p.m. Monday on Lighthouse Lane. The witness later told police that it wasn’t observed, and she just assumed they were having sex, but their clothes weren’t off at any time.
Marblehead, July 11
A report of public fornication at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday on Brook Road. A caller reported people slept outside at Eveleth the previous night and were now fornicating in front of their house. The caller stated he did see their “body parts.”
Peabody, July 29
Two domesticated rabbits were reportedly running free in the parking lot at 4:40 p.m. Saturday at 111 Foster St. One bunny was caught and taken to Taylormade Grooming Salon. The business would watch the bunny for as long as possible. Police reported the business was watching one bunny, but the other bunny got away and police could not catch it.
Peabody, July 30
A caller reported a neighbor was maliciously peering into her windows at 8:05 p.m. Sunday at 11 Coleman St.
Marblehead, July 31
A report of a truck blocking the crosswalk at 12:05 p.m. Monday on Pleasant Street. A caller reported she was trying to cross the crosswalk, but there was a Poland Spring truck unloading and blocking it. She argued with the driver and asked the driver to move. The driver reportedly stated “I will f–king move when I am done.” Police reported the truck was not blocking the crosswalk to a point where no pedestrians can’t use the sidewalk.
Marblehead, Aug. 2
A woman called at 10:49 a.m. Wednesday on Franklin Street and stated she wanted police to log an incident. She said she was locked out of her back door — she had been working in the garden and the neighbor locked her out when she went to put some fungicide on the plants. She stated that she tricked her neighbor and was not really locked out, but still wanted the incident logged.
Saugus, Aug. 14
A caller reported her neighbors have been stuck in their pool for several hours because there were skunks circling the pool at 3 p.m. Monday on Stone Street. The animal control officer was notified, and reported that the skunks ran into the woods.
Saugus, Aug. 15
A report of suspicious activity at 8:34 p.m. Tuesday at Walmart at 770 Broadway. A caller reported a man in a car was holding up a sign that read “call police” Police reported speaking with the car owner who didn’t realize what the other side of the cardboard said.
Marblehead, Aug. 16
A caller reported that someone was parked in her spot at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday on Front Street. She was told that it is a private lot and there was a process to have the vehicle removed. She didn’t like that answer and hung up. A man from that area later called police and stated that a “crazy lady blocked the car in and refuses to move unless I pay $100.” Another caller reported a disturbance regarding a man parked in a private lot.
Peabody, Aug. 31
A report of suspicious activity at 3:11 p.m. Thursday on Leblanc Drive. A homeowner reported having concerns about the house painter across street, who was acting weird. Police reported the painter was singing and had headphones in.
Marblehead, Sept. 4
A report of a keyed car at 4:34 p.m. Monday on Washington Street. A caller reported her car was keyed while it was in Crosby’s lot about an hour ago. She stated she knows that is when it happened because just prior to that, she walked around the car with a dog walker at the Fort admiring it.
Marblehead, Sept. 4
A report of suspicious activity at 6:33 p.m. Monday on Ocean Avenue. A caller reported a man was taking photos of a woman in a bathing suit. The man reportedly told a mother and her two children that they had to leave the area because he was “doing a private photo shoot” and they can’t be there. Police reported there were lots of people in the parking lot including kids and that no one was doing an exclusive photo shoot.
Marblehead, Sept. 5
An irate caller stated at 8:16 p.m. Tuesday on Green Street that there had been a “dump truck parked there for days on end and doesn’t understand why they can park there when I received a ticket for parking on the street for more than two days.” Police reported the vehicles were legally parked because there was no business being conducted at the time — it’s under construction and there is no need to enforce the 15 minute signs at this time.
Saugus, Sept. 10
A report of suspicious activity at 8:23 p.m. Sunday at Burger King/Janco Central at 1449 Broadway. A caller reported he saw what he thought were the remains of a body or someone who had been struck by a vehicle in front of the business. Police reported the items in question were a large sandbag and a paint can with leaking paint.
Saugus, Sept. 11
A report of a disturbance at 11:11 a.m. Monday at 200 Lincoln Ave. A caller reported a man bumped into her on the street, then picked up her trash barrel and threw it at her.
Marblehead, Sept. 20
A report of a toilet-papered house at 8:44 p.m. Wednesday on Harbor Avenue. A caller reported he has a history of kids bothering him, with such activities as ring and run. That night, he got a call from a neighbor about his house being toilet papered, but they got the wrong house and actually toilet papered the neighbor’s house.
Marblehead, Sept. 25
A report of suspicious activity at 7:02 p.m. Monday on Richard Road. A caller reported a person jumping out of the bushes more towards the JCC side of the tracks. She stated that it was just someone scaring people in the bushes, and couldn’t provide a description of the person. Police reported there was nothing showing.
Marblehead, Sept. 27
A moving truck brought a tree down at 3:47 p.m. Wednesday at Peach Highlands. A caller reported a mover’s truck struck a tree and it fell down, blocking half of the road. The driver reportedly got out, looked at the damage and left.
Saugus, Oct. 4
A report of a neighborhood dispute at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday on Winter Street. A caller reported she recently had a fence installed around her yard and her neighbor was upset over the height of the fence. She reported the fence was six feet high and between the yards, which is the allowed height. She was concerned because her neighbor was yelling at her earlier that day — the neighbor reportedly said “I curse you. Whatever happens to you, you deserve it.”
Marblehead, Oct. 6
A caller reported someone was on her mother’s property on Jersey Street picking weeds and acting crazy at 7:21 a.m. Friday. When police asked the caller what exactly the person was doing, the caller said “just picking weeds which makes him crazy.”
Marblehead, Oct. 6
A report of suspicious activity at 5:02 p.m. Friday on Atlantic Avenue. A caller reported a maroon sports car without state plates was heading inbound on Atlantic Avenue and both of the occupants were wearing masks. Police reported the masked people thought it would be fun to drive around and scare people — police told them that it was not a good idea.
Marblehead, Oct. 8
A caller reported at 8:12 a.m. Sunday she was at a yard sale on Ocean Avenue and a dog came up from behind her and knocked her down. Police reported the homeowner said there was no dog involved and the woman who called had instead tripped over a pillow. A witness confirmed the story.
Marblehead, Oct. 14
A caller reported an unknown woman came to his house at 3:47 p.m. Saturday on Franklin Street. He told police that he felt it was a strange encounter because she “walked into my house without my knowledge.” When he confronted her, she reportedly told him that she “was there to get an item she had purchased online and that it wasn’t a big deal if the item was in the house.”
Saugus, Oct. 18
A report of a disturbance at 9:23 a.m. Wednesday at Prospect and Summer streets. A caller reported a woman wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt was throwing apples at vehicles.
Marblehead, Oct. 24
A report of a person screaming in the waves at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday on Ocean Avenue. A caller reported someone in the water was screaming for help. The man came out of the water and said he was fine. He said he was screaming because he was having fun, but appreciated the caller notifying police and looking out for him.
Peabody, Nov. 11
A report of suspicious activity at 11:25 p.m. Saturday at 64 Foster St. The property manager reported the residents of 305 may be urinating in the elevator.
Saugus, Nov. 24
A report of suspicious activity at 9:23 p.m. Friday on Tuscan Avenue. A caller reported someone was shining a laser beam at his house. Police reported there was no suspicious activity and that the light was coming from a holiday lighting display.
Saugus, Dec. 1
A report of a disturbance at 9:29 p.m. Friday on Birch Pond Drive. A caller reported a group of kids have been “ding dong ditching” his home. He followed them to their home. An officer reported speaking with the suspect kids, who are denying any wrongdoing as to stay off the naughty list, but they will try and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Marblehead, Dec. 2
A woman came into the police station to report that her neighbor was using drugs at 10:34 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed address. She said that at “all hours of the night” she hears a person coming in and when this person enters the building, she detects “an ungodly odor that makes me nauseous.”
Marblehead, Dec. 6
A report of a neighbor issue at 1:39 p.m. Wednesday on Mohawk Road. A man wanted police to come over and tell his neighbors to stop draining their pool in the street as it was puddling in front of his house. Police informed the caller that the draining of the water was not a police matter.
Marblehead, Dec. 9
A report of a neighbor issue at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on Mohawk Road. A caller reported that he raked up his yard, made it look nice and his neighbor then raked leaves onto his property. The caller was told that it wasn’t a police issue regarding who the leaves belong to.
Marblehead, Dec. 10
A report of unwanted shoveling at 6:06 a.m. Sunday on Tufts Street. A caller reported he was startled by a man trying to shovel off his steps without being asked. The man was reportedly wearing a dark ball cap and carrying a shovel. Police reported there was no one in the area.
Marblehead, Dec. 27
A report of suspicious activity at 2:34 p.m. Wednesday on Jersey Street. A caller reported seeing a woman in a T-shirt flagging down cars. The woman reportedly asked if she could borrow a pan for roasting a turkey.