Arrests

Police Log: Employee Steals Copper Fittings, String of Car Break-Ins

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

March 5:36 p.m.: An officer on patrolling on Main Street spotted a man going into the Dunkin’ Donuts who was known to be wanted on an arrest warrant. As the suspect came out, the officer told him about the warrant and placed him under arrest. The 19-year old Watertown man was arrested on the warrant from Waltham District Court for assault and battery. 

Incidents

March 1, 2:14 p.m.: An employee at Jomar Distributors on Pleasant Street was suspected of stealing merchandise. Police were contacted by an employee who spotted the suspect on security video taking a full box of copper fittings and copper coils from the stock room, put them in a box and cover the items with a sweatshirt.

Real Estate

Four Properties Were Sold This Week in Watertown

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A colonial, two multi-families and a townhouse sold this week in Watertown. $681,000 – 75 Harnden Ave., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,344 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

$940,000 – 25-27 Stuart St., Multi-family Home – 2 Family, 2,696 Living Area Sq. Ft., 2 Units, 12 Total Rooms, 5 Total Bedrooms

Sponsored by:

$429,000 – 88 Pierce Road Unit 88, Condo – Townhouse, 874 Living Area Sq. Ft., 5 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

$727,500 – 18 Palfrey St., Multi-family Home – 2 Family, 2,102 Living Area Sq.

Environment

Resolution to Declare a Climate Emergency to be Examined by 2 Council Subcommittees

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The Town Council postponed a vote on a resolution that would declare a climate emergency, instead sending it to a pair of subcommittees to study it more closely and come back with a revised version. At Tuesday’s meeting, Councilors said that they supported taking action against climate change, but members of the Council said they did not believe enough discussion had been allowed on the resolution. Some pointed to the fact that it would change the Town’s deadline for eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in Watertown from 2050 to 2035. “This is a difficult decision for me because I believe climate change represents a real and dangerous threat to life on our planet and it is an emergency we must address,” said Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli. “However, this resolution was placed on agenda for vote with a lack of transparency, and circumventing our commitment for engagement on matters of great importance.

Police/Fire

See Photos from the 2 Rallies Near the Watertown Police Station

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The sun sets as crowds disperse after the two rallies Thursday in front of the Watertown Police Station. Hundreds of supporters from two groups gathered on either side of Main Street in dueling rallies in front of the Watertown Police Station on Thursday afternoon. The pro-police supporters outnumbered those supporting the teacher who showed the controversial video at Watertown Middle School. Supporters of the Watertown Police waved flags and held signs on Thursday afternoon. Many came to support the Watertown Police, in a “Back the Blue” rally following the showing an anti-police video at Watertown Middle School.

Around Town

See How to Preregister to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine at a Mass Vaccination Location

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Massachusetts residents can now sign up to get preregistered for the COVID-19 vaccine. The state’s vaccine signup went live on Friday, March 12. The system preregisters users to get a vaccine at one of the Mass Vaccination sites. These currently include: Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park (until March 26), the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, the DoubleTree in Danvers, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, the Natick Mall, and the former Circuit City in Dartmouth. Beginning March 27, the Hynes Convention Center in Boston will be a vaccination site.

Real Estate

A Wide Variety of Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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Check out the open houses around town this weekend. $699,900 – 53 Duff St., Single Family – Detached Cape, 1,650 Living Area Sq. Ft. 6 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3:30 Sunday 1:30-3:30

$997,500 – 37 Langdon Ave., Single Family – Detached Dutch Colonial, 2,855 Living Area Sq. Ft.

Police/Fire

School Committee Statement: Supports Anti-Racist Work & Watertown Police

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The following piece was provided by the Watertown School Committee:

The Watertown School Committee is committed to becoming an anti-racist school system by acknowledging the structural and institutional racism that is pervasive throughout this nation and its many institutions, and also consistently working to present that reality and incorporate those lessons into the Watertown Public Schools’ curriculum. We also support the Watertown Police Department and acknowledge their work with our schools to create transparent and safe community relations between the Police Department and the WPS. These two statements are not at odds with one another, despite the growing public divide: We can both support the important work of the Watertown Police Department and condemn long standing institutional and systemic racism. Recently our community has been challenged and hurt by an incident at Watertown Middle School involving a video played to a group of students. Instead of fostering open discussion in the classroom, this video sparked divisions in our community, particularly around policing and, by extension, the Watertown Police Department.

Around Town

LETTER: Watertown Group’s Letter to Superintendent, Supports Middle School Teacher

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An Open Letter to the Superintendent of Watertown Public Schools, Dr. Galdston,

We are writing to express our strong support for a Watertown Middle School teacher who is under attack. She is a courageous and principled teacher who has sought to constructively challenge herself, her community, her colleagues, and her students to face the realities of race in America. She has done this in part by becoming an advanced Kingian practitioner. Many like to quote the more comfortable sections of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, but King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” is often a more relevant touchstone. It is a challenging call to courageous action, and we believe that this teacher epitomizes its spirit.