Police/Fire

Watertown Children Graduate from Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Academy

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On Friday, Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office recognized 104 graduates of the Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA). Children from Watertown, Cambridge, Framingham and Natick were among those who graduated after spending four days learning from members of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office as well as local police and fire departments, the Sheriff’s Office announced. “For 17 years YPSA has brought together local youngsters and members of the public safety community,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “YPSA is an incredible opportunity to instill life lessons, provide critical public safety tools to some of our youngest residents, and allow children and public safety professionals to spend time getting to know one another. That is why I am so incredibly proud of this program.”

YPSA is offered as a low-cost, educational camp for county residents ages 9-11.

Arrests

Police Log: Woman Arrested on OUI After Driving the Wrong Way Down Galen St. and More

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. 
Arrests
July 26, 3:35 p.m.: A woman was stopped at Target after she was seen taking several items of women’s clothing into the fitting room and came out with items in her bag. She tried to walk past the registers without paying. The 21-year-old South Boston woman was arrested on a charge of shoplifting by concealing merchandise. July 27, 6:45 p.m.: Police were called to Longfellow Road after a resident reported a man walking up and down the street trying to open car doors. When officers stopped the man, police checked his record and found he had several warrants out of Lowell District Court: the first was a default warrant; the second was for two counts of receiving stolen properties over $250; the third was for larceny over $250, possession to distribute a Class C drug, and possession of a Class B drug; the fourth was for four counts of receiving stolen property over $250 and four counts of larceny over $250 by false pretense; the fifth was for possession of a Class A drug and possession of a Class E drug; and the sixth was a default warrant.

Police/Fire

Thief Uses Unusual Method to Rob Watertown Gas Station

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Like something you would see on a television show, a Watertown gas station was robbed when someone cut through a wall and stole money from the office safe. On July 25 at 7:15 a.m., an employee of AAA Auto Service on Main Street discovered the safe in the gas station’s office was forced open. An undisclosed amount of money was taken, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “Sometime during the overnight hours someone went into the bathroom – the door of was left unlocked,” O’Connor said. “The person went in an chiseled through the cement block wall, which led to the office where the safe was.”

Around Town

Police Get to Know Watertown Kids Over a Game of Dodgeball

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Even though he works nights, Watertown Police officer Mike Comick jumped at the chance to have some fun and play some dodgeball with some local kids last week. Thursday evening, the Watertown Boys & Girls Club hosted a Cops and Kids dodgeball game, followed by a jump into the club’s pool and some pizza for dinner. Comick said he participate in Cops and Kids when he was growing up in Watertown, paying basketball and floor hockey with them. “It really humanizes police,” Comick said. “We are seen as persons, not just a man in uniform.”

Arrests

Police Log: Man Caught Trying to Sell Stolen Downspouts, Laundry Taken

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. 
Arrest
July 18, 8:30 p.m.: A man was stopped by security at Marshall’s after he was seen placing multiple items into shopping bags and then attempted to leave the store without paying. He had assorted men’s and women’s clothing, worth $82.92. The 42-year-old Newton man was arrested for shoplifting. Incidents
July 19, 11:10 a.m.: A Morrison Road resident heard loud banging outside her home around 11:30 p.m. on the 18th. When she looked out she didn’t see anything, but the next morning she went out and found several dents on the driver side front door.

Police/Fire

Watertown Chief Hears from Obama During 21st Century Policing Conference

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The Watertown Police Department is pleased to announce that Police Chief Michael Lawn attended a 21st Century Policing Briefing in Washington, D.C., where President Barack Obama made a guest appearance, to talk about the future of policing. The White House hosted the fourth in a series of meetings since June for law enforcement officials focused on implementing the recommendations set forth by the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing on July 18. “My hope is that it’s been useful in giving you some tools and best practices to give you a sense of how departments on the cutting-edge are using data to train officers and engage with the community,” President Obama said at the event. “We also are hopefully hearing from you about what you’ve learned in your experience works and doesn’t work, and where the federal government can partner with your departments and state and local law enforcement officers across the country to do even better.” More than 150 law enforcement officials were in attendance at the event last week.

Police/Fire

Dorchester Man Arrested for Selling Cocaine After Long Investigation

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A Dorchester man faces drug dealing charges after being arrested for selling cocaine to an undercover officer in Watertown. 

The Southern Middlesex County Drug Task Force conducted an investigation. The man, identified as Alberto B. Mendes, was known by law enforcement to be selling drugs in and around Watertown, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “The task force  made five undercover drug buys from the person – cocaine,” O’Connor said. “They were always at a predetermined location in Watertown.” Members of the Task Force decided to make the arrest after the fifth drug buy, O’Connor.

Fire Department

Brush Fire Ignited by Fire Pit Burns Part of an Abandoned Property

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Firefighters extinguished a fire that started on an abandoned property off of Pleasant Street Thursday evening. 

Watertown Fire Prevention Officer Capt. Ryan Nicholson said the blaze started with a fire pit made on a piece of land behind the Launch Building. “It started from careless extinguishment of a fire pit,” Nicholson said. The fire occurred at a building on property formerly owned by Raytheon, but mostly burned a brush and wood covered area of about 500 square feet, Nicholson said. The Fire Department had difficulty locating the fire at first, because it is on abandoned property, Nicholson said. When they got there they had to break open a lock to get into a gate.