POLICE LOG: "Kidnappers" Demand Ransom

The following is an excerpt from the Woburn Police Department log. Please note that this is a sampling of activity in the log, not a complete account. We report all arrests included in the daily police log.

Featured Call of the Day:

Jan. 6 – At 9:59 a.m., police received a report of an unknown caller asking a Woburn woman for money. According to police, the woman received a call saying her boyfriend had been kidnapped. She was to get ransom money and await further instructions. Police located the woman’s boyfriend, who was at work in Tewksbury and was safe. While police were speaking to the woman, the “kidnappers” called again. The police officer picked up the phone; the caller asked for the woman and then hung up. Police noted the number of the caller.

Other Incidents:

Jan. 4 –

At 10:20 a.m., police received a report of a forged check. A Woburn woman reported that she received a call from Money Tree Bank, stating that someone was attempting to cash a $5,000 check. The woman never wrote out the check and reported the incident to her bank and police.

At 12:44 p.m., a Woburn woman reported her unlocked car was entered and a bracelet was taken. The car was parked on Montvale Avenue, said police.

At 12:50 p.m., police responded to a two-car accident at the Woburn Mall entrance/exit. According to police, one driver said his view was blocked by stopped vehicles. There were no reported injuries.

At 12:53 p.m., a Reading man reported his car damaged while parked in a Cedar Street parking lot.

At 1:36 p.m., a Lynnfield man reported his car damaged while parked on Main Street.

At 3:56 p.m., police responded to a two-car accident at Pleasant and Winn streets. According to police, one driver pulled out in front of another in the rotary, causing the crash.

At 4:55 p.m., a Salem Street woman reported a package stolen from her porch in December. According to police, the woman ordered a Christmas gift for her son that was delivered by FedEx on Dec. 18. The delivery company told the woman the package was left on her porch. The woman told police she never received the package.

At 5:13 p.m., Demming Rocker, 39, of 3 Kimball Court Apt. #410, was arrested and charged on an outstanding warrant. According to police, Rocker was taken into custody when served with a summons to appear in court.

At 5:24 p.m., police were called to a two-car accident at Commerce Way and Mishawum Road. According to police, one driver was turning onto Commerce when the driver on Mishawum struck the vehicle. Three people were taken to the hospital as a result of the crash, said police.

At 6:40 p.m., police responded to a three-car crash on Pleasant Street. According to police, one car rear-ended another, causing the chain-reaction accident.

At 8:34 p.m., police were called to Fairmount Street for a domestic disturbance. According to police, a couple argued and a mirror was broken. One person left the home for the evening.

At 9:12 p.m., Erick A. Atocha, 31, of 48 Lake Ave. Apt. #4, was arrested and charged with violating an abuse prevention order. According to police, Atocha has violated the abuse prevention order twice since it was issued (Oct. 2 and Nov. 29). Police spoke to witnesses who said Atocha was seen at the apartment building. The victim also told police she was playing with her dogs earlier in the evening when she turned around found Atocha standing behind her. Police went to Atocha’s home and placed him custody.

At 9:27 p.m., police were dispatched to a two-car accident at Cambridge Road and Russell Street. According to police, there was not enough evidence to determine who was at fault. There were no reported injuries.

Jan. 5 –

At 8:56 p.m., police were called to the Six Star Market on Main Street for a burglar alarm.

Jan. 6 –

At 3:28 p.m., police were called to Salem Street for a landlord/tenant dispute.

At 4:15 p.m., an Amesbury man reported he was walking his dog outside his girlfriend’s apartment at the Inwood West complex, when a dog off leash charged at him and began fighting with his dog. The man attempted to separate the dogs, and was bitten by the unknown dog. The man brought his dog inside the apartment, and asked the other dog’s owner to wait, but the man left. The man told police he was not sure what kind of dog bit him.

At 5:03 p.m., a Lowell woman reported her car tires slashed while parked at a Merrimac Street home. According to police, another car in the driveway also had damage.

At 6:01 p.m., a Woburn man reported he lost his wallet in Wilmington and had received word that his debit and credit cards had been used in Saugus and Burlington.

At 7:38 p.m., a Lake Avenue man reported a $300 jacket stolen from a common dryer machine in his building’s laundry room. According to police, the jacket was returned to him later, but was damaged.