Police Log: Five Fires Set Last Week Outside Arlington Homes

The following information comes from the Arlington Police Department. When arrests are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Four Fires Set Early Thursday Morning

Leaf bags at three Arlington homes were set on fire early Thursday morning, April 12, while a recycling bin at another was lit later that morning.

A resident on Wollaston Avenue and two on Appleton Street reported the small fires between 1:20 and 2 a.m. A Piedmont Street resident reported the fourth fire at 6:35 a.m.

The fires were quickly extinguished by Arlington firefighters and did not cause any property damage, according to police.

The Piedmont Street resident also told police that the night before someone had filled his gas grill with sticks and other yard debris and opened the gas valve all the way. The grill was not lit, he said.

Early Thursday morning, at about 2 a.m., a vehicle was also entered near Appleton Street, on Browning Road.

Alleged Bike Rage

A man on Massachusetts Avenue called police at about 1:16 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, after a cyclist shoved him in the chest during an argument.

The man told police that he parked his car on Massachusetts Avenue, near its intersection with Henderson Street, and opened his door while the cyclist was riding by. The cyclist then yelled something at him, and the man yelled back, police said.

The two then argued face to face, and the cyclist shoved the man in the chest, according to police. The cyclist told police that he did so because the man was getting in his face.

The man did not wish to pursue a criminal complaint for assault and battery at the scene, police said.

After police talked to both parties, the cyclist offered to shake the man’s hand. The man declined.

Outside Fire

Police responded to a report of a small pile of brush on fire outside of a Tanager Street residence at about 1:36 a.m. Wednesday, April 11.

Police used a fire extinguisher to squelch the blaze before firefighters arrived.

Man Falls Asleep in Car, Gets DUI

A 63-year-old Brighton man told police that he was driving home from a day of golfing and drinking in Middleton when he got lost and decided to pull over and go to sleep.

Police located the man, Thomas J. Sanker, asleep in his car on Massachusetts Avenue, near its intersection with Thorndike Street, at about 10:07 p.m. Tuesday, April 10.

Sanker was in the driver’s seat, but the car was not running, according to police.

He was charged with driving under the influence, second offense, police said.

Notable Incidents from Tuesday to Thursday, April 10-12

Thursday, April 12

1:19 p.m., Claremont Avenue, Missing person

10:33 a.m., Daniels Street, Fugitive from justice arrested on court warrant

9:40 a.m., Old Colony Lane, Larceny from a building

6:35 a.m., Piedmont Street, Fire investigation (see above)

1:58 a.m., Browning Road, Breaking and entering for felony (see above)

1:53 a.m., Appleton Street, Fire investigation (see above)

1:46 a.m., Appleton Street, Fire investigation (see above)

1:20 a.m., Wollaston Avenue, Fire investigation (see above)

Wednesday, April 11

1:16 p.m., Massachusetts Avenue, Assault and battery (see above)

1:36 a.m., Tanager Street, Fire investigation (see above)

Tuesday, April 10

10:07 p.m., Massachusetts Avenue, Driving under the influence, second offense (see above)

6:25 p.m., Massachusetts Avenue, Missing person

5:14 p.m., Peck Avenue, Threats

4:33 p.m., Broadway, Malicious destruction of property over $250

3:22 p.m., Massachusetts Avenue, Customer problem

1:13 p.m., Massachusetts Avenue, Malicious destruction of property over $250

7:56 a.m., Massachusetts Avenue, Motor vehicle crash with injury

6:11 a.m., Cottage Avenue, Malicious destruction of property over $250