NORWOOD – Nahatan Street Shaw’s customers found themselves caught in the middle of a foam-filled fray this past Wednesday. On April 8, at approximately midday, Norwood Police received a 911 call from store management reporting a significant disturbance at the supermarket entrance near TJ Maxx and CVS. According to police logs, a group of roughly 15 juveniles, aged 12 to 13, had effectively taken over the storefront.
The report detailed a scene that was less “spring shopping” and more “backyard brawl.” Store management alleged that the group of boys and girls had stolen store property, specifically foam pool noodles, and were using them to beat one another at the entrance.
The commotion reportedly grew so intense that customers were unable to enter or exit the building, and the group was further accused of harassing patrons with aggressive swearing and verbal outbursts.
Norwood Police officers subsequently arrived and confronted the large group. According to the police narrative, the youths did not shy away from the allegations. The group admitted to the officers that they had been using the pool noodles as weapons and harassing passersby with foul language.
While the scene was chaotic, it ended without arrests or physical injuries. Officers reported that the group expressed remorse, stating that the behavior would not happen again. After a stern advisory from the responding officers regarding their conduct and the impact on local businesses, the units cleared the scene.
For now, the pool noodles have been retired, and peace—and the ability to buy groceries in silence—has returned to the Shaw’s plaza.-RD
