Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/policefire/page/133/)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Sept. 26, 8:30 p.m.: Police had knowledge that a Puritan Road resident was wanted on a warrant. The 54-year-old Watertown woman was located and arrested on the warrant from Waltham District Court for assault and battery on someone over 60 and assault and battery. Sept.
After several years on hiatus, the Watertown Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy is back, and residents can sign up now.
Classes will begin on Oct. 26, and will be held each Wednesday for seven weeks from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn brought back the Citizens Police Academy as part of the WPD’s community policing effort. “It was a very successful program. People really enjoyed it,” Lawn said. “And with all that’s going on in policing today I figured this is a good time to bring it back.”
Through the month of October, the Watertown Fire Department will add a touch of pink to their blue uniforms for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you can get one of their T-shirts, too, and support patients undergoing treatment for the disease. Firefighter Bob Power is organizing the effort this year, and has seen what going through treatment for breast cancer can be like. “My wife was diagnosed two-and-a-half years ago,” Power said. “She has been cancer free for about two years.” The money raised by the WFD is given to those undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Sept. 19, 9:30 a.m.: Police arrested a man who allegedly ran a red light on Mt. Auburn Street and crossed the center line before crashing into two vehicles. Police responded to a report of the three-vehicle accident at the intersection of Mt.
Watertown Police tracked down the man who allegedly called in a bomb threat to a local worksite despite the suspect’s attempt to throw them off the track.
On Sept. 26, State Police received a 911 call from a person saying there was a bomb at a building on Bridge Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Watertown Police were contacted and went to the address to evacuate the building, which is under renovation. State Police also provided the phone number from which the bomb threat came, and Watertown Police were able to identify the owner as a man named Lawrence Benjamin of Lowell. During the investigation, Watertown Police received a call from a man claiming he owned the cell phone.
The Watertown Police Department announced the return of the Citizens Police Academy, and the latest class will begin on Oct. 5. The aim of the academy is to familiarize residents with the operations of the Watertown Police Department. Another goal of the citizens academy is to increase citizen-police interaction and cooperation. “It is our intention after the completion of this seven week course, participants will have a better understanding of the police officer’s role in the criminal justice system and an appreciation of the many challenges facing law enforcement in today’s society,” reads a letter about the program written by Police Capt. Raymond DuPuis.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department.
Arrest
Sept. 18, 7:20 p.m.: Police were called to Mt. Auburn Street at Elton Avenue for a disturbance. When they spoke to a woman involved and checked her record police found that she had a warrant for her arrest. The 33-year-old woman from Lynn was arrested on the default warrant out of Lynn District Court.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced that Bradford Casler, 55, of Newton was arraigned Monday in Middlesex Superior Court on two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of operating a motor vehicle to endanger in connection with the fatal crash that occurred at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant in Newton, according to Ryan’s office. Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant released on personal recognizance with the condition that he not drive a motor vehicle. The next court date in this case is Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, at 11 a.m. On that date, the court will hear arguments relative to the defendant’s motion to impound the Commonwealth’s statement of the case. “This was a tragic crash where two people lost their lives and seven others were seriously injured. The defendant was allegedly operating his vehicle at a speed which exceeded the speed limit when he crossed the marked lanes, went through a red light and struck two other vehicles before crashing into the front of the Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant,” said District Attorney Ryan. “The defendant did not apply the brakes to reduce his speed and failed to control his vehicle resulting in the collision.”
On March 1, 2016 at approximately 6:12 p.m. Bradford Casler was allegedly operating a Volkswagen Tiguan Sport Utility Vehicle traveling down Chestnut Street in Newton when he allegedly crossed over Washington Street colliding with two cars on Washington Street and ultimately traveling through the front of Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant.