Continuing the trend of increasing call volume at the Lowell Police Department, officers logged 228 cases in April. That’s up from 219 in March and 180 in January.
Perhaps because of the uptick in cases, there was a substantial drop in the number of traffic stops last month. However, the department has been deploying a portable speed sign on busy roads around town, and according to residents on those streets, that has seemed to help reduce vehicle speeds.
Among the April cases were the following:
- 44 assists to other agencies
- 22 pistol permits and sales
- 17 general and motorist assists
- 14 welfare checks
- 13 suspicious situations
- 11 ordinance violations
- 6 traffic accidents
- 6 non-aggravated assault
- 4 Flock hits
- 2 criminal sexual conduct
- 1 delinquent minor
- 1 weapons offense
Lowell officers also made 87 traffic stops that resulted in 13 citations.
CSC Cases Require Specialized Care
The Lowell Police Department is currently working on a couple of criminal sexual conduct cases involving children. These complaints were referred to the department by Child Protective Services, and Detective Aubrey Culver says they require a specialized approach.
When the department gets a referral in a case like this, their first responsibility is to investigate and ensure that the child is in a safe situation. That typically requires that the person accused of the crime is not living with the child.
As part of the process, officers may interview adults, but they do not conduct field interviews of children. Those are set up and conducted through a special advocacy program. Physical exams are avoided unless it appears a child has been injured. In that case, the exam is completed at the downtown Y through an office with staff trained to work with children.
The current cases are ongoing, but Culver notes that the perpetrator in a previous case was recently sentenced. A Hunt Street resident was arrested last year on charges of sexually assaulting her three-year old granddaughter. She entered a plea for three charges and was sentenced to 8-25 years in prison. Her earliest release date is in 2031.
Theft and Assault Cases
There was one report of a vehicle theft last month. The car was taken from the local Y, and the case is still outstanding. Culver says it could be linked to other thefts in the area, and the Lowell department is talking to surrounding jurisdictions.
Last month’s assault cases involved a variety of circumstances. Some were between juveniles while others were family disputes that boiled over. There was one case involving individuals in a park who apparently did not know one another.
Summertime Ordinance Violations
The department notes that there is often an increase in ordinance violations as the weather heats up. The city’s ordinances prohibit “any person to cause, permit, maintain or allow the creation or maintenance of a nuisance.” Among the long list of examples offered in the ordinance are the following:
- Noxious weeds and vegetation taller than 12 inches
- Storage of junk, trash and rubbish, including junk vehicles
- Damaged or partial structures
- Unnecessary noises and annoying vibrations, including animal noises
Standing water - Conditions that could harbor rats, mice, snakes and other vermin
- Disagreeable and obnoxious odors and stenches
For a complete list of examples, see Chapter 12 of the city’s code of ordinances.
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