LAWRENCE — An alert state trooper spotted a car reported stolen Tuesday night in Amesbury and arrested the driver.
Trooper David Thistlewood of the governor's auto theft strike force was traveling south on Lawrence Street about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, when he saw the green 2001 BMW X5 sport utility vehicle at a gas station.
Police said Thistlewood remembered the license plate from a stolen car broadcast by Amesbury police Tuesday night. He turned his unmarked cruiser around and pulled up in front of the BMW.
Thistlewood called Trooper Dennis Sullivan, also of the strike force, who was patrolling in a separate unmarked car and got out of his cruiser and arrested the 15-year-old Lawrence boy who was driving it.
Police said the boy told them he got the car from his brother on Basswood Street.
Lawrence police took the 15-year-old boy to the police station to be booked. He was charged with driving without a license, using a motor vehicle without authority, and receiving a stolen motor vehicle, police said.
The SUV, which had been stolen with the keys in it, was towed.
The following were taken from area police logs for Wednesday:
Methuen
Vandalism: 28 Railroad St., car damaged, 1:20 a.m.
Burglary: 99 Pleasant Valley St., 2:42 a.m.
Car crash: 14 Woodland St., two cars, no injuries, 1:02 p.m.
Disturbance: 142 Jackson St., 4:11 p.m.
Vandalism: 6 Plymouth St., car window broken, 7:01 p.m.
North Andover
Car crash: 30 Massachusetts Ave., no injuries, 9:23 a.m.
Disturbance: 388 Winthrop Ave., 2:19 p.m.
Burglary: 190 Chickering Road, 6:23 p.m.
Disturbance: 34 Main St., 6:51 p.m.
Andover
Car crash: High Street, no injuries, 4:01 p.m.
Vandalism: Trevino Circle, mailbox damaged, 9:25 p.m.
Arrest: Luis Rodriguez, 18, 14 Clarence Terrace, Lawrence, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute near a school or park, 60 River Road, 11:08 p.m.
Arrest: Felipe Hidalgo, 24, 11 Tenney St., Lawrence, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute near a school or park, 60 River Road, 11:08 p.m.
Lawrence
Noise complaint: 21 Washington St., 1 a.m.
Noise complaint: 231 Water St., 2:02 a.m.
Car theft: 28 Lenox St., 6:18 a.m.
Theft: 148 Willow St., 9:23 a.m.
Car theft: 133 Farnham St., 10:09 a.m.
Vandalism: 272 Broadway, 12:08 p.m.
Car crash: 33 Fitz St., no injuries, 12:14 p.m.
Vandalism: 70 N. Parish Road, 1:14 p.m.
Burglary: 368 Water St., 1:30 p.m.
Car crash: Broadway and Lowell Street, no injuries, 2:02 p.m.
Disturbance: 343 Essex St., 2:44 p.m.
Arrest: Christian Rosario, 17, 102 Market St., receiving stolen property over $250, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving an uninsured vehicle, possession of burglary tools, driving without a license, trespassing, 572 Essex St., 10:40 p.m.
Arrest: Rosebert Chery, 17, 189 Garden St., assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, 575 Common St., 11 p.m.
Arrest: Julio Rivera, 39, 9 Willoughby St., failure to stop for a police officer, passing on the right where prohibited, 9 Willoughby St., 11 p.m.
