Two arrested for theft of a dog

I’m a little busy here since I’ve got a lot to accomplish before my vacation starts at midnight tonight, but here’s a story I just cranked out about the alleged theft of a pit bull in Dracut today.

By Robert Mills
rmills@lowellsun.com
DRACUT — A Dracut couple is facing charges they stole a dog from another couple during an altercation on Methuen Street, and then struck a woman with a car as they fled with the dog.
Deputy Chief David Chartrand said Emanuel Lima, 28, and Ashley Dewolfe, 27, both of 21 Wigham Ave., met up with a couple they know on Methuen Street in the area of Hillside Drive about 7:15 p.m.
“They met to talk about money that was owed between the couples, and the discussion turned into an altercation,” Chartrand said.
The victims in the case, who police did not identify, had their dog, a pit bull, in their car when the fight broke out.
“They took the dog from the victims’ vehicle, placed it in their vehicle, and began to flee,” Chartrand said.
As Emanuel and Dewolfe fled, their car struck the female victim, who was taken to Lowell General Hospital for observation, Chartrand said. Her injuries did not appear to be serious, he said.
Emanuel and Dewolfe had fled the area by the time police were contacted, but the victims told police where they live.
Chartrand said Emanuel and Dewolfe were arrested at their home a short time later.

Someone in Pelham owes their neighbor a beer

I can’t tell you how many times in my years as a police reporter I’ve heard police ask people to keep an eye out on their neighbor’s homes in order to help police fight burglaries.

Yesterday in Pelham, someone did just what police ask.

Police got a call at 3:20 p.m., from a resident of Balcom Road who said a woman had just broken into her neighbor’s home.

The caller told police the woman emerged from the home wearing a black hooded sweat shirt and flip flops, and that she was carrying a black bag.

Lt. Gary Fisher was in the area and he found a woman fitting that description once he got to Balcom Road. He saw the woman drop a bag full of stolen items as he approached, police said. That woman, Sharon Olsen, 21, of Litchfield, N.H., is pictured above on the right.

Police say Fisher then learned that Olsen had been dropped in the area by a man in a blue Chrysler Town and Country, and Fisher soon spotted that vehicle. Officers stopped it, and found Michael McFarland, 34, of Manchester, N.H., driving the van, which contained more stolen property, according to police.

Carjacking in Lowell

Lowell Police are investigating a reported carjacking outside 323 Concord Street that occurred about 5 minutes ago. Female victim tells police a man pulled a handgun and stole her Honda Civic.

Plate number is 229EW2, comes back to a 2002 Honda Civic, four door, color black. Last seen fleeing down Concord Street, toward Rogers.

Suspect is described as a Hispanic male, about 30 years old, about 5’3, 180 pounds, with short black hair. He was clean shaven. He wore a black baseball cap and a black hoodie. He displayed a black handgun.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lowell police at 978-937-3200 or Crimestoppers at 978-459-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent to police via Text-a-Tip, by texting TIP411 (847411) with the subject “LPDTIP.” Tipsters can remain anonymous, but still receive a cash reward.

UPDATE: The car was recovered in Lawrence moments ago. It had been under surveillance for a while, but police eventually decided to just have it towed.

Where is my iPad?

On Monday night, about 6:50 p.m., Lowell Police got called to a home on Bradstreet Avenue for a report of a past break-in.

A woman had arrived home, found her front door open, and discovered an iPad, jewelry, and some other items had been stolen. Capt. Kelly Richardson said the call was “routine.”

Officers Jose Lorenzi, Luis Rios, and Dan Otero arrived to investigate. When the woman reported that her iPad had been taken, Lorenzi informed the woman she could potentially use her home computer to track the location of the iPad using the iPad’s GPS function.

Lorenzi and Otero helped show the victim how to do that while Rios handled the regular aspects of investigating the house break.

Lorenzi is pictured on the left in the photo attached here. Rios is second from right. This photo is from last summer when they were among four officers lauded for helping make a gun arrest in The Acre.

Shortly after the officers left the woman’s home, she called police to report that she got a “ping” from her iPad, showing it was located just one block away at 144 Parker Street. At the same time, police got a call about a break-in at 144 Parker Street.

Police realized the two things were probably connected, so they sped to the home. The suspect had already fled, but he left the stolen iPad behind. It was recovered, and police found enough evidence to obtain an arrest warrant for a Lowell man, according to Capt. Richardson.

Richardson declined to identify the suspect since he remains on the loose. Police now have an arrest warrant and are searching for him.

I’ll bring you that guy’s identity once he’s in custody.

Carjacking at Dracut High School

Tonight at 9:28 p.m., Dracut Police asked surrounding towns to be on the lookout for a red, 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had just been stolen from Dracut High School.

About five minutes later, police radio broadcasts revealed the Jeep wasn’t just stolen – it was stolen at gunpoint.

Police are now searching for the red Jeep, with Massachusetts License Plate 581GK1. It was last seen heading inbound on Lakeview Avenue, toward Lowell, immediately after the theft.

Police radio broadcasts indicate there are two Hispanic males, a Hispanic female, and a black male involved in the theft. Police have been warned that there should be a firearm in the vehicle.

That’s all I have now. Officers and the shift commander are working on the investigation. I have a call into the deputy chief, but it’s very early in the investigation so I don’t expect much information quite yet. I’ll update as soon as I know more.

UPDATE: Police just recovered the Jeep in the area of 20 Patricia Lane at 10:30 p.m.

UPDATE: From what I’m hearing the victim here was not injured, and was probably not a student. It’s school vacation week, for one thing, and Deputy Chartrand told me police are investigating whether this was a drug deal gone bad. All details are preliminary.

The deputy is going to send me an upate on this on Wednesday.

Anyone who spots the vehicle should call your local police department immediately. If you have other information regarding this incident call Dracut Police at 978.957.2123.