Belmont Police log, May 10-16: Pedestrian struck, check fraud, Microsoft scam, dispute between dog owners and more

The following are excerpts from the Belmont Police log as made available by the Belmont Police Department. The log is public and available for review. All persons are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. 

Friday, May 10

12:54 p.m.: A Longmeadow Road resident reported three checks he mailed to his sister out of town did not arrive. They were apparently intercepted and someone made a mobile deposit into an account. He does not remember where he mailed the letters from. He is working with his bank to close the account.

2:20 p.m.: A Bellvue Road resident reported fraud. The resident said she was using her computer when she got a pop-up message and phone number from what appeared to be Microsoft and instructed to call to repair the issue. She called the phone number and allowed remote access to her computer. The person who had remote access told her that her bank account was compromised. She was transferred to someone she thought was a bank manager. She went to the bank’s Watertown branch and withdrew $17,850 and was then convinced to go to a convenient store in Brighton and upload the money into a Bitcoin machine. The money is gone. She has been instructed to contact IC3, an online fraud government organization.

3:47 p.m.: Suspicious activity at M and T Bank in Belmont Center. There were children playing on the grass area in front of the bank. A man, smoking a cigarette, appeared to be observing the children. He didn’t say anything. A license plate was provided. Officers were able to locate the man and speak to him. He said he  just pulled into the parking lot to listen to the radio and he doesn’t smoke cigarettes.

5:30 p.m.: Belmont man was walking his dog at Rock Meadow when he encountered a Belmont woman walking hers that he had past bad interactions with. Approximately two years ago, her dog bit his dog and he did not report it. Today, the woman yelled at him and sprayed a water bottle at him and threw a rock in their general direction. Officers spoke with the woman who said she knew why the incident was reported and that she was fed up. She said the man has been harassing her for the past couple of years and kicked her dog in the past.

7:05 p.m.: Shoplifting reported at CVS on Trapelo Road. The manager said at around 6 p.m. a woman stole $750 worth of merchandise. Video surveillance shows a woman going into the cosmetics aisle. Detectives are investigating.

8 p.m.: A Newton resident reported writing a check for $100 to an LLC and mailed it in the mailbox on Trapelo Road at Church Street last month. Today he was made aware the LLC did not receive the check. When he looked at his bank account, he saw it was made out to Jolelis Ortiz for $9,033. The suspect has been identified and charged.

Saturday, May 11

8:28 a.m.: A pedestrian was struck by motor vehicle at the intersection of Belmont and Worcester Streets. A 2013 Jeep operated by an Arlington man that was entering Belmont Street did not see a Watertown woman in her 40s as she was exiting her car and struck her at a low speed. She had a minor injury to her left foot and was transported to the hospital for an evaluation.

10:06 p.m.: Someone drove by in a dark Audi and sprayed a squirt gun with gel at a group of children on the sidewalk in front of 36 Leonard St. in Belmont Center. There were no injuries.  

Sunday, May 12

11:33 a.m.:  Vandalism to a motor vehicle on Agassiz Avenue. The owner said he saw three small dents and chipped paint on the rear door. He had video of a man with something in his hand but he could not describe the man or identify what was in his hand.

Monday, May 13

1:23 p.m.: Collision on Pleasant Street by Winn Street between a 2023 Subaru operated by an Arlington man and a 2017 Lexus operated by a Belmont man. The Lexus collided with the Subaru and the operator was cited for a marked lane violation. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Tuesday, May 14

8:09 a.m.: Collision on Palfrey Road by Common Street between a 2016 Toyota operated by a Belmont man and a 2017 Ford operated by a Rhode Island man. The Ford was attempting to take a left when it struck the Toyota. The operator of the Ford was cited with failure to yield right of way.

Wednesday, May 15

11 a.m.: A Clairemont Road resident reported suspicious activity. He received a letter stating a collection agency from Ohio was looking for information from him. Two years ago he was a victim of employment fraud from during COVID. He is working with the Attorney General in Ohio to have the issue corrected.

2:45 p.m.: A Common Street resident reported fraud. Someone gained access to her Chase bank account and withdrew $7,000. It was taken out in two parts, $6,000 and $1,000 at a branch in Illinois. The bank has frozen her account and is reimbursing her.

Thursday, May 16

7:40 p.m.: A Hill Road resident reported at some point in the last year he lost his Saudi Arabian passport. He has been in touch with the embassy of Saudi Arabia and they requested a police report.

Between May 10 and May 16, Belmont Police responded to four mental health and six domestic calls.