Arrests

Police Log: Man Gets Takeout After Striking Light Pole, Serial Shoplifter Caught

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 19, 3:55 p.m.: A shoplifter was spotted at Marshall’s concealing four Bluetooth speakers in his backpack and leaving the store without paying. He was stopped and the items were recovered. They were worth $139.96. The 54-year-old Boston man was stopped and arrested for shoplifting by concealing merchandise, a third offense.

Real Estate

See the Eight Homes Sold in Watertown This Week

By |

Watertown had eight home sales this week, find out more below. $840,000 – 27 Marcia Road, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$870,000 – 21-23 Derby Road, 2 unit, 10 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

$478,000 – 204 North Beacon St. Unit 204, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$519,900 – 17 Commonwealth Road Unit 1 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$510,000 – 131 Coolidge Ave. Unit 728, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

$425,000 – 75 Pierce Road Unit 75, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$445,000 – 32 Whites Ave. Unit D28, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

$398,500 – 24 Ladd St.

Police/Fire

Four Men Busted After Police Raid Finds Several Kinds of Drugs, Guns & Cash

By |

Four Watertown men face drug and firearm charges after a raid of their home in on Thursday. 

Watertown Police along with members of the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force and a NEMLEC SWAT team raided a home after receiving a search warrant for the 51 Riverside St., according to Watertown Police. Four residents of the home — James Paul, 28, Charles Seo, 22, Dominic Chad Davis, 29, and Akeem Ricardo Mapp, 29 — were placed under arrest and arraigned in Waltham District Court on Friday, Police announced. The search found cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy (MDMA), Ketamine, marijuana, three firearms, and approximately $10,000 in cash, according to an announcement from police. The raid came after month-long drug investigation by Watertown Police and the drug task force.

Around Town

Look for the Green Bikes — Lime Bike Share Company Comes to Watertown

By |

A fleet of 200 bright green bicycles arrives in Watertown on Friday. These bicycles are part of the town’s first bikeshare program, run by Lime. Unlike the bikeshares in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, Lime operates a dockless bike program. “Lime is thrilled to bring our dock-free smart bikes to Arlington and Watertown. Many of the communities north of Boston have now added our affordable, green transportation option for everyone to enjoy,” said Scott Mullen, Lime Director of Expansion, New England.

Real Estate

Several Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Weekend

By |

See the open houses taking place in Watertown this weekend. $839,900 – 44 Upland Road, 8 room, 4 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1:30 Sunday 11:30-1:30

$729,000 – 3 Quincy Unit 3, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath half duplex, Open House: Saturday 12-2

$749,000 – 504 Main St. Unit 2, 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$765,000 – 125 Coolidge Ave. Unit 707, 6 room, 2 bed, 2 bath high-rise, Open House: Saturday 4-5

$775,000 – 71 Bradford Road Unit 71, 8 room, 4 bed, 3 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 1:30-3:30

Sponsored by:

$799,900 – 69 Bradford Road Unit 69, 9 room, 4 bed, 3 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 1:30-3:30

$750,000 – 26 Whitcomb St., 7 room, 3 bed, 1 full 2 half bath colonial, Open House: Saturday 11-1

$485,900 – 9 Wollitzer Lane Unit 9, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 12-1:30

$495,900 – 11 Wollitzer Lane Unit 11, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 12-1:30

Government

Mt. Auburn St. Plans Approved by Council Subcommittee, Now on to Full Council

By |

Wednesday evening, the Council’s Public Works subcommittee recommended that the Town Council approve the plan for Mt. Auburn Street that would reduce the number of travel lanes in most sections and add buffered bike lanes along many stretches. 

The plan has been much discussed over the past several years, after the Town Council voted in 2013 to have the Department of Public Works and the town’s traffic engineering consultant, WorldTech Engineering, come up with plan for a “road diet” for the major artery between Watertown Square and the Cambridge line. The project is a Complete Streets project, which means it is designed for all modes of transportation: motor vehicle, bicycles, pedestrians and public transportation. If the Town can get TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) funding, the entire $14 million budget will be covered entirely by the state, said Bill Mertz, vice president of WorldTech. The plan would reduce the number of motor vehicle travel lanes from two lanes each way to one each way along most of the length of Mt.

Government

Council Changes Direction on Community Preservation Committee, Town Manager will Make Appointments

By |

Tuesday night, after a long and contentious debate, a majority of the Town Council voted to approve a compromise that would give the Town Manager power to appoint member of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) with those selected needing to be confirmed by the Council. The decision went away from the subcommittee recommendation to have members appointed by the Council. The approved ordinance, which was brought forward by Town Council President Mark Sideris, also provides specific direction to the Town Manager for what qualities to look for in the appointees. Since the Community Preservation Act (CPA) passed in 2016, the focus has been on how to appoint the four at-large members of the Committee, which is charged to come up with ideas and recommendations for how to use funds from the tax surcharge. The money can be spent on affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation.

Police/Fire

Man Exposes Himself to Woman on Main Street in Watertown

By |

Watertown Police warn the public that a man exposed himself to a woman passing on the street on a recent evening. 

On June 20 at 9 p.m. Police received a report from a woman who said a man had just exposed his genitals in the area of Main Street at Cross Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “She was not sure if he exposed himself directly at her,” O’Connor said. “The suspect did not say anything and fled toward Pleasant Street, in the direction of the Charles River.” Police from Watertown and Newton searched along both sides of the Charles River, but could not locate the suspect. The witness described the suspect as being a young white male with shaggy hair who wore a red T-shirt and grey sweat pants.