Police Log Roundup: Indecent Late-Night Assault, False Prescription Arrest

Woman Indecently Assaulted on Washington Street

Thursday, July 29, 11:24 p.m. Melrose Police Lt. Mark DeCroteau said a woman in her mid-20s who had been house-sitting in Melrose was walking on Washington Street from Oak Grove when a man came up from behind and physically assaulted her.

The assault, which occurred near the intersection of Washington Street and Clinton Street, was reported as a sexual assault, DeCroteau said, declining to provide further details to maintain the victim's privacy. The woman shouted and pushed away the man, who then ran away. She immediately called 911 and Melrose Police searched the area with its K-9 unit, which could not locate the assailant. Police escorted the woman back to the home where she was house-sitting and notified the MBTA Police and Malden Police.

The assailant was described as a man between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, wearing dark clothing including a dark hooded sweatshirt pulled up over his face. He was also described by the victim as thin and scrawny.

Man Arrested For False Prescription at Walgreens

Sunday, Aug. 1, 12:59 a.m. Employees at Walgreens contacted Melrose Police to report a suspicious person attempting to fill a false prescription. Melrose Police officers, with assistance from the Walgreens pharmacist, were able to contact the Beverly doctor's office listed on the prescription, who said that while the prescription slip appeared similar to the slips issued by that doctor's, it was "undoubtedly a false one," DeCroteau said.

"The font on the heading is different and the doctor's signature was not recognized as the actual signature," he said. "He might have used a computer to  make one and it did not match the one made out of that's doctor office."

DeCroteau said the false prescription was for "some type of narcotic," but declined to specifically identify the medication, citing medical privacy laws, in case the man trying to pass the false prescription previously once had a legitimate prescription for that medication.

Robert J. Cecere, 20, 19 Old Towne Road, Lynnfield, was placed under arrest on the charge of uttering a false prescription.

Other Arrests and Summonses

A 26-year-old North Andover woman was issued a summons on Tuesday, July 27 on the charge of assault and battery. 

A 23-year-old Malden man was issued a summons on Thursday, July 29 on the charge of violating an abuse prevention order.

Justiniano Mendez, 23, 4 Laighton, Apt. 2, Lynn, was arrested on Saturday, July 31 on the charges of a subsequent offense of driving with a suspended registration, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and speeding.

A 41-year-old Melrose man was issued a summons on Saturday, July 31 on the charge of attaching license plates.

A 28-year-old Melrose man was issued a summons on Saturday, July 31 on the charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop/yield at a red light.