Arrests

Police Log: Man Threatened on Main Street, Car Stolen off Street

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
March 22, 9 p.m.: A woman was spotted in Target paying for some items but not for other items in her carriage. She was stopped and security found that she had clothing and bedding worth $294.62. She said she had a gift card but it had no money left so she paid for what she could with cash but then left without paying for the other items. The 25-year-old Weston woman was arrested on a charge of shoplifting over $100. March 26, 7:25 p.m.: A man left his cell phone at Domino’s on Arsenal Street and when he went back he caused a disturbance.

Facebook

Facebook Argument Turns Into Fracas in Watertown Square

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A disagreement on social media turned into a police incident when two men from Watertown decided they should decide their argument IRL. At 11:10 p.m. on March 23, Watertown Police received a report of a two men fighting in the parking lot next to Dunkin’ Donuts in Watertown Square. The men were yelling at each other when police arrived and they were separated, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “Both had consistent stories. They were involved in an argument on Facebook,” O’Connor said.

Government

Town Council, Town Officials Salute Watertown’s Fallen Firefighter

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This week, the Town Council and Town officials honored fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano with a moment of silence at the end of Tuesday’s Town Council, and shared their condolences. Town Council Mark Sideris spoke on behalf of the Town Council. “We express our condolences to his wife, his family and his firefighter family in Watertown and across the state,” Sideris said. Sideris also thanked Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio and the Fire Department for arranging the funeral for Toscano on March 22. “It was a day that we can say we were all proud to be from Watertown,” Sideris said.

Police/Fire

Middlesex Sheriff Introduces Citizens Academy for Developmentaly Disabled

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Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian is pleased to announce a new initiative aimed at engaging local residents with developmental disabilities. The Special Citizens Academy is a free, four-week program that will launch April 11 at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy in Chelmsford. The program is designed for residents ages 18, and above, with developmental disabilities who have an interest in public safety and learning more about the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office. “As we continue our efforts to engage more residents within Middlesex County, we see this Academy as incredible opportunity to introduce more people to who we are and what we do,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. The Academy will meet once a week for two hours and include presentations on the role of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO); the MSO’s K-9 Unit; Internet Safety and Awareness; Fire Safety and First Aid; as well as Mobile Operations.

Break ins

Watertown Police Investigating a String of Break-ins of Local Businesses

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Watertown Police are investigating a string of break-ins of businesses that took place last week. Eight businesses on Mount Auburn Street and Spring Street were broken into between 11 p.m. on March 21 and 6 a.m. on March 22, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. An undisclosed amount of cash and a laptop were taken from these locations. The break-ins occurred in three clumps, with two in the 200 block of Mt. Auburn Street, three in the 500 and 600 block of Mt.

Arrests

Police Log: Small Fire Damages Home, 2 Residents Hit by Phone Scams

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest
March 18, 3:04 p.m.: Police arrested a man for repeatedly returning items to Target which he had previously stolen from the store. The man was seen taking a mountain bike and a hat and walk out of the mall entrance of Target and putting them into his 1996 Ford Crown Victoria parked out front. Then he came back into the store with a woman, and they attempted to return a television at the customer service desk. The store discovered he had returned a number of items recently and called police, who were able to recover the bike and a box of Legos from the car.

Fallen Firefighter

1,000s Bid Farewell to Fallen Firefighter Toscano – a Loving, Renaissance Man

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Joseph Toscano, the Watertown Firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty on March 17, was a humble man who would never boast about his talents and accomplishments, but those who remembered “Joey T.” during his funeral service Wednesday morning remembered him as a great firefighter, an amazing father and as a multi-talented Renaissance man. The outpouring of love and support from friends, family and others has been very comforting to Toscano’s family, said his oldest daughter Alyssa during the funeral at St. Patrick’s Church in Watertown. Thousands of firefighters from around the Massachusetts and beyond lined Main Street to watch Toscano’s funeral procession arrive at the church. Last Friday started as a typical morning, as Toscano said goodbye to his family on his way to work, but a few hours later phone calls from the Watertown Fire Department reported a life-changing tragedy.

Police/Fire

Firefighters from Across the Nation Pay Their Respects to Watertown’s Fallen Firefighter

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The sorrow of bagpipes echoed through Watertown for the second time in three years. On Wednesday, thousands of firefighters gathered to pay their final respects to fallen firefighter Joseph Toscano. Tosacno’s funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Church at 11 a.m. Firefighters from across the state, and as far away as California, lined Main Street in Watertown Square to salute Toscano as his casket was brought to the church atop a Watertown Fire Engine. Toscano died suffering a medical emergency while battling a two alarm-blaze at 29 Merrifield Ave.