Published in the September 24, 2018 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Police arrested a 34-year-old Lynnfield man on multiple charges, including carrying a dangerous weapon, after he was seen with a rifle in the Montrose area Saturday morning.
Starting at about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, police received several 911 calls about a man with a patrol rifle. The first call said the man with the rifle was standing near the Sunoco gas station at Salem Street and Pleasure Island Road. A second call described a man dressed in military gear with a rifle near Walton Street. A third call said that a similarly described man was seen running into the woods near Jessica Lane.
Police set up a perimeter and were able to locate the man and ordered him to drop the rifle. They arrested Sean P. Giampa of 21 Walnut St. in Lynnfield. The rifle turned out to be an authentic looking replica, but according to police, Giampa also had a loaded handgun in his pocket as well as a switchblade type knife.
In addition to the charges for carrying a dangerous weapon, Giampa faces charges for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
—–
With the help of Woburn Police, on Friday morning Wakefield detectives were able to arrest a 58-year-old Woburn man who many police departments in the region have been looking for as a person of interest in a number of harassment and fraud cases.
At about 10 a.m. on Friday, Wakefield detectives Richard DiNanno and Ken Silva were able to track the man to a location in Woburn, where they observed a parked white Chevy sedan occupied by a man and a woman. The man was believed to be Richard William Porter, the man the detectives were trying to locate.
When the car drove away, the Wakefield detectives requested the assistance of Woburn PD in conducting a vehicle stop. They were able to positively identify Porter and place him under arrest on five outstanding warrants related to harassment and fraud charges. He was brought back to Wakefield Police Headquarters. During booking, they located in Porter’s possession a Social Security number and a driver’s license belonging to another man.
Police said that they are also working other cases possibly involving Porter and they anticipate that additional charges may be forthcoming.
—–
It was a busy weekend for police.
A 34-year-old Somerville woman will be summonsed to court for unlicensed driving after they stopped the 2013 Hyundai Sonata she was driving near Water and Melvin Street at about 9 a.m. Friday. Police said that an officer on a traffic detail observed the car with a brake light out and conducted a stop. It was determined that the driver was unlicensed.
—–
One citation was issued and both cars were towed after a crash between a 2018 Toyota RAV4 and a 2016 Ford van at Main and Meriam streets Friday morning at about 9:45.
—–
Police arrested a 24-year-old Avon Street man for drunk driving after he was stopped for speeding on North Avenue at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. While speaking with the driver, police detected an odor of alcohol and observed an unopened can of Bud Lite in the center console. An open bottle of Jack Daniels was located behind the passenger seat. The driver’s speech was also slurred, according to police.
After a series of field sobriety tests, Travis R. Kendrew of 31 Avon St. was arrested for driving under the influence of liquor. He was also charged with speeding and violating the town’s open container bylaw.
—–
At about 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, Police, Fire and the Light Department were called to the area of Richardson Avenue and Foster Street after a large tractor-trailer took down some wires and a transformer.
—–
Police arrested a 31-year-old Wharton Park man for drunk driving (second offense) after he was stopped for speeding on New Salem Street at about 10 p.m. on Saturday. According to police, Sgt. Joseph Anderson observed a gray Accura driving at an estimated 60 mph on New Salem Street. While speaking with the driver, Sgt. Anderson detected an odor of alcohol and observed that the driver’s speech was slurred. After a series of field sobriety tests, Joseph R. Toomey of 35 Wharton Park was arrested for OUI (second offense). He was also charged with speeding.
—–
At about midnight on Sunday morning, a 56-year-old Greenwood Avenue woman was arrested for drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. Police were called after neighbors in the area of 58 Greenwood Ave. heard a crash. Arriving officers found a parked 2002 green Volkswagen with heavy damage to its left side. Witnesses said that the car that hit the VW had continued down Greenwood Avenue.
Police were able to locate a 2016 Ford escape with right side damage and green paint transfer at a residence up the street . Officers were able to raise a woman, Renee H. Cobb, 24 Greenwood Ave., in the home who was believed to have been the driver. She exhibited an odor of alcohol and slurred speech while police were speaking to her. She was arrested after a series of field sobriety tests.
—–
Police and the Fire Department went to a Parker Road address after a caller reported that a car had crashed into a backyard at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. The driver of the 2014 Ford van said that he was making a left turn when he lost control of the vehicle and drove over the curb and through a fence.
—–
Police are investigating a case of vandalism involving spray paint in the area of the Yeuell School on Crystal Street that was reported at about 1:45 p.m. on Sunday.
—–
Police investigated a possible attempted break into an Albion Street home that was reported at about 10 p.m. Sunday. Police said that there were signs of attempted forced entry, but it did not appear that entry as gained.
—–
The Fire Department responded to 35 calls over the weekend, of which 17 were for medical aid.
