CPD Nabs Fitchburg Man in Stolen Truck

The litany of motor vehicle violations slapped against a Fitchburg man pulled over last week in Concord stem from the fact the 1996 Ford F-150 he was driving in was reportedly stolen from a dealership in Plaistow, NH, Concord Police said this week.

John E. Newman, 35, of 18 Woodward Ave., Fitchburg, was arrested at 2:15 a.m. last Thursday, June 13, after a Concord Police officer stopped the old model pickup he was driving in on Route 2 at the Acton line. The charges against him include:

• Operating an unregistered motor vehicle,
• Uninsured motor vehicle
• Receiving stolen property (two counts)
• Possession of burglarious instruments
• Number plate violation to conceal identification
• Operating a motor vehicle with his license suspended
• And an outside warrant

According to Concord Police Sergeant Jack Kennedy, it’s unclear whether Newman stole the vehicle he was driving or if he was a recipient of the stolen property, but police believe he put a license plate from another motor vehicle on the stolen pickup.

However, at the time of his arrest, police allege Newman was in possession of a screwdriver, gloves and other tools that resulted in the charge of possession of burglarious instruments, Kennedy said.

There were two female passengers in the vehicle at the time of the stop and Newman's arrest, according to the incident report.

One of the two was eventually identified as a teenaged former student at the Walden Street School, who was listed as missing/endangered by both the Lexington and Wakefield Police departments. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Family Services was notified of her whereabouts, and DCFS staff arrived at CPD to take custody of the teen, according to the police.

Newman’s relationship with his passengers is unclear, but Kennedy said neither of the female passengers was charged in connection with the motor vehicle stop.