November is a month for giving thanks, and one local business is especially thankful for the help they received from an officer of the Lowell Police Department. Keep reading for more about that case as well as other department activities for the month.
But first, here’s a snapshot of department cases during November 2020:
- 61 calls for assistance to citizens
- 13 calls for assistance to other agencies
- 8 total arrests
- 4 car accidents
- 4 verbal assault
- 4 disorderly conduct
- 2 larcenies
- 1 ordinance violations
Plus, the department made 57 traffic stops and issued 17 citations in November.
New Officer Goes Above and Beyond Call of Duty
Officer Jesalyn Heard hasn’t been a member of the Lowell Police Department long, but she has already made a big impact in the community. That was especially evident when she responded to a call for assistance from Hong Kong Buffet on November 28.
The buffet-style restaurant located on W. Main Street has been limited to takeout orders since the spring and is struggling to stay afloat. Therefore, owners were distressed when a person placed a relatively large order and then never arrived to pick up and pay for the food. Attempts to reach the customer by phone were unsuccessful so the restaurant contacted the Lowell Police Department for assistance.
Officer Heard was able to connect with the customer but learned that the person, who lives in the Battle Creek area, didn’t realize they had called a Lowell establishment for their order. Rather than have the restaurant be out the money for the food, Heard offered to buy the meal herself and both paid for the food and left a tip. The owners of Hong Kong Buffet neither requested nor expected Officer Heard to do so but were incredibly grateful for the gesture.
Money Stolen from Woman, Local Business
In two separate cases, a woman staying at Laurels of Kent and a local business found themselves victims of financial crimes.
The first case was brought to the attention of the Lowell Police Department when an out-of-state relative of a woman at Laurels of Kent noticed banking irregularities in her loved one’s account. After investigating, it appears that the woman was scammed out of $10,000 – $20,000. A suspect has been identified but no charges have been filed yet.
In a different case, King Milling reported that someone had intercepted a check they sent to a vendor. The person changed the name on the check and cashed it for themselves. King Milling is apparently not the only victim of this thief as similar cases outside the city seem to be linked to the same suspect. The investigation is ongoing and charges haven’t been filed yet.
Department Receives New AEDs
Thanks to a grant from the Look Memorial Fund, the Lowell Police Department has three new AED machines, also known as automated external defibrillators. These machines can be critically important in the event someone goes into cardiac arrest, but the department’s previous machines were older and had a minor glitch that made them unreliable.
The new machines come from Stryker Corporation and were obtained at a discounted price. One will be kept in police headquarters and the other two will be placed in police cars.
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