Last month, Lowell police officers received new tasers, stepped up their traffic enforcement and helped the Department of Homeland Security execute a warrant for the arrest of a Lowell resident. Plus, nine school groups came to take tours of the police station before school let out for summer.
In total, the Lowell Police Department had 216 case reports filed for May, including the following:
- 39 pistol permits and sales
- 37 assists to other agencies
- 16 suspicious situations
- 14 general and motorist assists
- 12 ordinance violations
- 11 traffic accidents
- 4 family issues
- 3 malicious destruction of property
- 3 fraud
- 1 stalking/harassment
Lowell officers also made 93 traffic stops that resulted in 20 citations.
May Cases
The most significant police activity in May was the execution of a warrant by the Department of Homeland Security. Lowell police officers and U.S. Marshals were among the more than dozen law enforcement members who participated in the arrest of a Lowell resident.
However, mum’s the word about the nature of the alleged crime. Lowell officers say they aren’t authorized to talk about the arrest since it is part of an ongoing investigation, but they expect the Department of Homeland Security will eventually issue some sort of statement about the case.
In other news, the department reports that heroin use unfortunately seems to be increasing. Officers responded to two calls about heroin overdoses in May, and there was a death in the city that they believe is attributable to the drug. Officers note that fentanyl, a potent painkiller, is being cut into many street drugs now which makes the substances more deadly.
There was a medical emergency in town in which a person amputated three fingers after a dog took off and a wire leash wrapped around a pole. Despite efforts to collect and preserve the fingers, doctors were unable to reattach them.
Local marijuana dispensaries were targeted last month in a Bitcoin scam. Many dispensaries have ATMs on site and some of these can conduct transactions in Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency. The scam involves someone calling the store and telling the worker that they are with a regulatory agency. They inform the employee that the business has failed some inspection, and that their boss is with the person on the phone. Then, they are directed to deposit money into the ATM via Bitcoin to pay for the fine associated with the violation.
However, it is all a ruse to steal money from the business. There is no violation, and the caller is not from the government. Once the money is deposited, the nature of Bitcoin makes it impossible to recoup the funds.
Other Department News
In other department news, the Lowell Police Department received its new cruiser, and officers have also upgraded to Taser 7 devices.
The tasers have technology that will not only make it easier for officers to file reports, but they also improve transparency by automatically turning on officer body cameras when in use. This technology builds upon other recent upgrades adopted by the department to ensure officer activity is properly recorded. For instance, an earlier system upgrade means body cameras are now automatically turned on whenever a patrol car’s lights are activated.
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