Amherst Police Log for July 13, 2018

DISTURBANCES

4:11 p.m. – A man confronted police officers stopping vehicles near Kendrick Park and warned them he was concerned the stops were being made to check on driver’s immigration statuses. Police informed the man that the stops were part of a grant-funded crosswalk enforcement program.

VANDALISM

6:24 a.m. – A joy ride in a golf cart stolen from a person at Cherry Hill Golf Course caused damage to the greens as it was driven to Puffer’s Pond. The cart was later returned and management at the golf course said it didn’t intend to press charges.

9:44 a.m. – An electronic sign board used by the Department of Public Works was damaged while placed on Station Road.

MOTOR VEHICLE

ACCIDENTS

12:47 p.m. – A deer ran out onto College Street and struck a motorcyclist, police said.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

9:36 p.m. – The Boulders residents who had a fire going in a pit outside their home used two beers to extinguish it when firefighters got there.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

5:21 p.m. – An Amherst resident receiving harassing text messages from her former boyfriend’s new girlfriend was advised of how to get a restraining order.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

1:24 p.m. – Amherst Police assisted an attorney for a television reporter in Washington, D.C. who is seeking a restraining order against an Amherst resident. The resident has ellegedly sent the woman  hundreds of harassing emails in which he says he loves her.

4:37 p.m. – People on the beach at Puffer’s Pond were advised alcohol is prohibited from being consumed there and dogs should not be walked in the area.

9:11 p.m. – Police spoke to four women found swimming at Puffer’s Pond and reminded them the location closes at dark.

VANDALISM

3:27 p.m.  – A Montague Road resident told police the golf cart that caused damage to Cherry Hill Golf Course two days earlier may also have caused ruts on his property.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

10:38 a.m. – Cows loose on South East Street were returned to their field by their owner.

10:50 a.m. – A black bear that crossed College Street in the area of Shumway Street was not located by police.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

6:21 a.m. – Firefighters extinguished a small dumpster fire at The Boulders.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

2:04 p.m. – Around 25 people jumping from the rocks into Puffer’s Pond were advised to get down for their own safety. At 4:08 p.m., police returned to the location, where people were still on the cliff and a number of swimmers were also hanging out on the dam.

DISTURBANCES

4:29 p.m. – A woman working at a North Amherst home was allegedly assaulted by a client.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

5:04 a.m. – The owner of loose cows on South East Street got the animals back into their field.

MOTOR VEHICLE

ACCIDENTS

1:47 p.m. – Police said they took a report from a bicyclist who was hit by a vehicle on West Street earlier in the day and suffered scrapes to her leg, knee and arm. She declined medical attention, but her expensive bike sustained heavy damage. The driver of the vehicle may make restitution.

TRAFFIC

1:09 p.m. – Police monitored traffic congestion on roads near Puffer’s Pond.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

10:46 p.m. – A Brandywine Apartments resident called police after she observed a woman resting on her patio. The woman fled on a bicycle before police got there.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

2:47 p.m. – A resident told police he was getting harassing calls from a woman who gave him money to purchase party supplies and was upset that he didn’t give her any change.

TRAFFIC

7:16 p.m. – A vehicle swerving toward oncoming traffic on Belchertown Road was not located by police.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

4:25 p.m. – A Riverside Park Apartments resident told police someone tampered with a window in an attempted break in. Police determined the window had been popped open by wind.

10:40 p.m. – A high-pitched sound coming from a High Point Drive home was determined to be a leaf blower left plugged in, despite no residents being home at the time. Police unplugged the equipment.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

6:47 p.m. – Police assisted a man recover his ID from a package store that confiscated it.

DISTURBANCES

12:29 p.m. – A man who made threats toward an employee at a downtown bar, and then threw tobacco at the employee, fled. Police located the suspect. He said he was upset that staff removed him for an incident two years earlier.

10:41 p.m. – Police were notified about a man loitering outside a downtown bar, asking people for cigarettes and also claiming that he was mugged by others. He was sent on his way and advised to stop bothering people.

LARCENY

11:44 p.m. – A theft of a backpack outside a downtown store was reported to police.

ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

12:15 p.m. – A dog left in a vehicle parked outside a South Amherst store had enough water and was showing no signs of distress.

MOTOR VEHICLE

ACCIDENTS

6:04 p.m. – A bicyclist and vehicle collided on Montague Road near the entrance to Mill River Recreation Area.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

8:14 a.m. – A bicycle from the Valley BikeShare was abandoned on Northampton Road. Police notified the company that administers the program.

12:20 p.m. – An Amherst resident reported to police that she purchased a laptop online that may be stolen.

4:43 p.m. – Police removed people from the cliff at Puffer’s Pond and warned people drinking alcohol on the beach. At 7:17 p.m., police sent people on their way who had dogs on the beach.

5:27 p.m. – College-age people drinking alcohol on the roof of a North Pleasant Street home were reported to police.

6:04 p.m. – The source of fireworks in the area of the middle school was not located.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

5:43 p.m. – Food left cooking on a stove at Mill Hollow Apartments triggered a smoke detector.

DISTURBANCES

12:07 p.m. – A man banging on the door to a Colonial Village home was advised he is no longer welcome at the location.

LARCENY

6:16 p.m. – Two packages left at a Shays Street home in late June were stolen before the resident was able to pick them up.

VANDALISM

12:36 p.m. – A North Amherst resident in a dispute with a neighbor told police his neighbor’s son spit on his vehicle. 

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

1:15 a.m. – An intoxicated man trying to get into vehicles parked outside a downtown bar was turned over to a sober friend to bring him home.

11:44 p.m. – People who rang a doorbell and looked in the window of a High Street home, possibly in an effort to get inside, were not located.

CITIZEN ASSISTANCE

4:41 p.m. – Police removed people from the cliff at Puffer’s Pond and warned other people consuming alcohol, smoking cigarettes and walking dogs, all of which are prohibited. A Northampton man was issued a $300 citation for violating the town’s open container bylaw after he was found for a third time consuming alcohol on the beach.

DISTURBANCES

2:55 p.m. – Police kept the peace between people at Puffer’s Pond arguing over parking and use of an area of the beach for a barbecue.

4:22 p.m. – An argument occurred between a person advocating for a tree in downtown Amherst and a man leaning against it. The man agreed to move so he wouldn’t damage the tree.

NOISE COMPLAINTS

11:17 p.m. – Police issued a verbal warning to Stony Hill Road residents talking loudly around a fire pit.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

1:10 p.m. – Police assisted firefighters with smoke coming from an apartment at Colonial Village, which was caused by food left on the stove.