Oak Bluffs police recovered more than $770 worth of stolen merchandise taken from six different businesses Saturday evening, as Island police reported a busy Labor Day weekend, including multiple arrests for drunken driving.

According to a police report, at about 5:50 p.m. Saturday, Oak Bluffs police Sgt. Dan Cassidy was flagged down by the manager of Slip 77 who was standing next to a man identified as Mohammed Khan. The manager was holding merchandise from the store with the tags still attached, and claimed Mr. Kahn had stolen from her store, the report said.

The owners of Basics Clothing and Blush also arrived on scene, according to the report, and Mr. Khan also had in his possession a large tote bag, a large backpack and a travel-sized Samsonite suitcase. When Sergeant Cassidy asked if Mr. Kahn had any other stolen items, “Khan just shrugged,” the report states.

According to the report, the manager of Slip 77 identified other items in the tote bag that had been stolen from her store, Basics and Blush. In addition, items from Phillips Hardware, The Lazy Frog and Tangerine were also discovered, the report said. All items were returned to the stores and Mr. Khan was escorted to the Oak Bluffs police station, according to the report. After a review of security footage provided by Slip 77, Mr. Kahn was arrested and charged with three counts of shoplifting.

In a separate police report from Oak Bluffs, later Saturday evening just after 7:15 p.m., Sergeant Cassidy responded to upper Circuit and Kennebec avenues after reports that a truck had struck several parked vehicles. In his report, Sergeant Cassidy said when he arrived on the scene a single occupant from the truck had been pulled out by a bystander and was unconscious and in need of medical attention.

EMS arrived on the scene and transported Michael Rebello to the hospital, according to the report. In a follow up conversation with witnesses, Sergeant Cassidy said Mr. Rebello’s truck was seen sideswiping two cars, jumping the sidewalk and clipping the Oak Bluffs Inn before coming to a stop. After further investigation, officer Seth Harlow added to the report that the incident had begun on the corner of Dukes County and Masonic avenues. Witnesses told Officer Harlow they observed the truck drive over a stop sign and cut across a grass lawn before striking a telephone pole.

Mr. Rebello was placed under arrest and charged at the hospital, according to the police report. On Tuesday he was arraigned in Edgartown district court on charges of operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, open alcohol container, three counts of leaving the scene of property damage, marked lane violation and failure to wear a seat belt.

Tisbury police also reported four OUI arrests over the weekend, Sgt. Max Sherman confirmed. Incident reports were not immediately available for all four arrests, but Sergeant Sherman said on Friday Tisbury officers responded to a single car accident at the intersection of Franklin and Spring streets. Upon arrival, officers found the single occupant and operator of the vehicle out of the car and after further investigation determined the driver had hit parked cars and a fire hydrant before coming to a stop.

Of the other three OUI arrests, one occurred Sunday at 5:30 p.m. and the two took place on Monday, one just after midnight and the other at 7:30 p.m., according to the Tisbury sergeant.

In Edgartown just before noon Sunday, police and fire responded to a single-car accident off the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road near Morning Glory Farm, after the driver of a 2003 Jeep Liberty had accelerated out of control, crossing the road and bike path, narrowly missing three cyclists and landing in a dried-up pond, according to a police report.

According to the report by Sgt. Michael Snowden and officer Curtis Chandler, the driver, Susan Cole, said she believed the car had malfunctioned.

“Based on all involved parties’ statements, and the observations of the crash site and area, I formed the opinion that Cole had operated her vehicle on a public way in a manner that was negligent and placed the lives and safety of the public in danger. Her vehicle crossed both lanes of travel and the bike path almost hitting the three bicyclists, and entered into the field, eventually came to a stop in the pond,” the report said.

Ms. Cole will be summonsed and is facing charges of negligent operation and marked lanes violation, according to the police report.
   
In West Tisbury, Chief Matt Mincone said it was a busy weekend for calls, but few required responses by officers. On Friday, Chief Mincone said officers arrested a person for driving with a suspended license, and responded to a handful of disturbance calls. There were three complaints of trespassing, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“It was busy for Labor Day weekend. I think there was a lot of traffic so it kept the speeds down for the most part and we were very visible on the flip side of it. But calls for service, noise complaints, very very quiet on that end,” Chief Mincone said.

In Chilmark, Chief Jonathan Klaren reported that the beaches were busy but his police department was not. He said Chilmark officers made no arrests. He reported there was one minor motor vehicle accident involving a deer.

Aquinnah Sgt. Paul Manning had a similar report from the Island’s westernmost town. He said there were no calls for service. Officers made a couple motor vehicle stops but other than that, “it was quiet, summer is over,” Sergeant Manning said.