The big news from the Lowell Police Department for March was that Chris Hurst officially retired from the position of police chief. The force is now led by Chief Dennis Albert. Beyond that, there was a sizeable jump in cases – 221 in March compared to 146 in February – but police say most matters were minor.
Those March cases included the following:
- 38 assists to other agencies
- 27 suspicious situations
- 26 pistol permits and sales
- 15 general and motorist assists
- 9 traffic accidents
- 9 welfare checks
- 7 non-aggravated assaults
- 5 suicidal subjects
- 2 criminal sexual conduct
- 2 stalking/harassment
Lowell officers also made 163 traffic stops that resulted in four citations in January.
CSC Included Registry Violation
Criminal sexual conduct cases are relatively uncommon in Lowell, but there were two logged in March.
One is an ongoing case involving a child and offenses that span multiple jurisdictions. The other was a sex offender who failed to register their new address. Lowell police encountered this individual while responding to a different matter and discovered that the person was listed on the registry as a homeless sex offender instead of under their current address.
Dog Fight Case Turned Over to County
The Lowell Police Department responded to a call at Stoney Lakeside Park about two dogs “chewing on each other.” When the officer arrived, one owner and dog had left. Police took information about the incident and turned it over to Kent County Animal Control which now has uniformed officers to handle these matters.
Vandalism in Riverwalk Bathroom
The Lowell Police Department received recurring reports of vandalism in the public bathrooms along the Riverwalk. Soap dispensers were ripped off the walls and toilets were plugged with paper.
Police noticed a pattern in the vandalism, and by reviewing security footage of the Riverwalk were able to identify some middle school students who seemed to be responsible for damage. The next time the students entered the building, an officer was dispatched to intercept them. Another student who was outside tired to warn them, but the door was remotely locked so they could not exit.
The case will likely go to juvenile court, and the bathroom hours have been adjusted so the doors don’t unlock now until after the start of the school day.
School Crossing Guard Needed
The Lowell Police Department says it is still looking for a school crossing guard to work from 8-9am and 3-4pm on school days. If you are interested in the position, contact the department during normal business hours.
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