NORWOOD – A morning disturbance at the Town Common gazebo drew a multi-officer response on Wednesday, leading to a tense interaction, racial slurs, and ominous remarks directed at police officers.
According to a Norwood Police Department report, on May 13th, 2026 officers responded to the gazebo area at 566 Washington Street at approximately 7:24 a.m. following reports of a physical altercation between two women. Dispatchers initially informed responding officers that one woman had allegedly struck the other over the head.
Upon arrival, Officers separated the two parties to investigate. The first individual claimed she had been struck over the head during the argument. The second party claimed the first woman had been intentionally antagonizing her by blasting loud music and using profane language in the public gazebo. After repeatedly asking her to stop, the second party claimed the woman approached her and touched her left shoulder.
As officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, the first woman’s behavior reportedly turned aggressive and volatile toward officers.
While seated on the side of the gazebo, she continued to play her music loudly and lobbed a series of unsolicited, bizarre accusations and insults at the scene. According to the police report, she strangely accused the Norwood Police Department of having a “new heroin dealer.” Police say she repeatedly shouted racial slurs and allegedly told officers “Think of me when you take your last breath.”
An independent witness at the Town Common contradicted the first woman’s claims of being assaulted. The witness told officers that she was the “primary instigator” of the entire disturbance and stated he never saw her get struck.
The witness noted that this was far from an isolated incident, telling police that similar disruptions are common where the woman frequently harasses and antagonizes people visiting the common.
No immediate arrests or criminal action was taken by the Norwood Police according to the report. Names of involved parties were redacted by NPD to protect their privacy. -RD
Editor’s note: While it’s unknown if those involved in this incident have any mental health conditions, this service call illustrates NPD’s need for mental health co-responders that pair officers with trained mental health clinicians on 911 calls that may involve behavioral and mental health patients in crisis. Chief Padden has sounded the alarm recently with Governor Healey’s proposed budget cuts that many communities rely on to maintain embedded clinicians and co-response teams.
