A utility pole on Chandler Road was found split down the middle Thursday night, Aug. 20, in what Andover Police are investigating as a possible hit-and-run.

An officer discovered the damage near 141 Chandler Road shortly before 11:30 p.m. and asked dispatch whether any recent crashes had been reported in the area. Dispatch found no matching reports, according to reporter Dave Copeland of Andover News, who compiled the incidents from police radio transmissions.

Little evidence remained at the scene. A later transmission suggested the vehicle may have been black, but police could not determine a make or model. National Grid responded to assess the pole and determine what repairs were needed.

Tree on wires closes Porter Road

A tree or large branch resting across multiple wires, including primary electrical lines, forced police to close part of Porter Road for several hours on Aug. 20, starting around 10 a.m.

Officers coordinated access so residents could reach homes on either side of the obstruction while National Grid worked to clear the hazard.

The road reopened that afternoon. Some branches remained along the roadway and were reported to the town's tree department for cleanup.

Illegal backyard burn draws fire response on Sunset Rock Road

A third-party caller reported smoke coming from behind a Sunset Rock Road home shortly before 10:45 a.m. on Aug. 20, prompting several Andover Fire Rescue companies to respond.

Police arrived first and determined the smoke was coming from someone burning materials in the backyard. Firefighters found a fire pit burning behind the home and extinguished it with the homeowner's garden hose.

Crews advised the resident about open-air burning regulations. Massachusetts law permits open-air burning of brush and forestry debris only between Jan. 15 and April 30, according to town guidelines. A fire pit burn on Aug. 20 falls well outside that window.

Wandering German Shepherd reunited with owner

A German Shepherd found roaming the River Road area late Wednesday night, Aug. 19, was back home by Thursday afternoon.

Massachusetts State Police had alerted Andover officers to the wandering dog around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officers located the dog and secured her for the night. Animal control brought the German Shepherd to a holding facility Thursday morning.

Around 3 p.m. Aug. 20, animal control reported the owner had called. About an hour later, the dog had been dropped off at home.

Driver arrested on outstanding warrant on River Road

Andover Police arrested a driver on an outstanding warrant following a traffic stop on River Road shortly after 6:20 p.m. on Aug. 20.

Officers checked the driver's information during the stop and discovered a warrant involving motor vehicle charges out of Somerville District Court. The driver was taken into custody and transported to the Andover Police station for booking. Radio transmissions did not provide details about the underlying charges.

All items were compiled from Andover public safety radio transmissions and are preliminary. They may not reflect the outcome of subsequent investigations.