Police/Fire

Beware of IRS Phone Scam Targeting Watertown Residents

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The Watertown Police Department warns residents to be aware of an ongoing scam where a caller poses as an IRS official and threatens arrest if a payment is not sent. 

Monday afternoon, the Watertown Police Department sent out the following information:

Please be advised there has been a recent phone scam where the scammers identified themselves as the IRS from a spoofed (fake) IRS phone number. The scammer demanded money over the phone and threatened the victim with arrest if they refuse. The Watertown Police Department wants to advise residents to be suspicious of phone calls that involve money or ask for personal identifying information (DOB, SSN, checking account numbers). Whether it be the IRS threatening with arrest or the bank asking for personal information; most of these cases are scams. In these instances hang up with the caller and contact the main business line of the organization they claim to be with to verify their statements. Caller ID can be tricked so do no assume that the call is legitimate because you recognize the phone number.

Police/Fire

Feds Auctioning Off Whitey Bulger’s Possessions to Benefit His Victims

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The U.S. Marshals Service will auction items belonging to James “Whitey” Bulger and Catherine Greig on June 24-26th at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.  The announcement was made by U.S. Marshal John Gibbons and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz Monday. “The U.S. Marshals Service will execute the order signed by Judge Casper.  Our goal is to maximize the proceeds of the auction to compensate the victims of Bulger’s brutal crimes,” said Marshal Gibbons. “We are pleased that we will soon be auctioning a significant portion of Bulger’s and Greig’s personal possessions, which will mark another milestone in the course of their successful prosecutions,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.  “Although the proceeds we obtain will never be enough to make up for the harm the victims and their families have suffered, it is our hope that this process and the restitution we will be able to distribute as a result of the auction will give some relief to the victims and families in this case.” Pursuant to a court order signed today by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper, the U.S. Marshals Service will be conducting a sale of the forfeited items of James Bulger and Catherine Greig.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Joins Effort to Stop Motorists from Texting While Driving

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The Watertown Police Department will partner with 202 other eligible local Massachusetts law enforcement agencies and the Massachusetts State Police in the national “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” mobilization to crack down on motorists who text and drive. The campaign, which combines traditional and innovative enforcement strategies, is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD) from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Arrests

Police Log: Drunken Driver Knocks Pole into Store Window, Small House Fire

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
March 21, 4:40 p.m.: A man was stopped at Target after he was seen taking a number of items and hid them in his pants and his jacket. He had a total of $158.46. The 20-year-old Watertown man was arrested on charges of shoplifting over $100 by concealment. March 22, 9:16 p.m.: Watertown Police went to Edgecliff Road to serve a warrant from Waltham District Court for intimidating a witness, assault, threat to commit a crime and harassment.

Arrests

Drug Task Force Investigation Results in Arrest on Narcotics Charges

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A Roxbury man was busted on drug charges after being stopped in Watertown. The Suburban Middlesex Drug Task Force had been investigating the man for drug offenses. He was stopped on Arlington Street in Watertown on March 24 at about 4:15 p.m., said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Police arrested Johan Solis, 35, of Roxbury, on two counts of possession to distribute a Class B Drug. Solis’ vehicle was also confiscated, O’Connor said.

Around Town

Police Host Watertown Strong 5K; World Marathon Champ Will Attend

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Sign up now for the third annual Watertown Strong 5K Run/Walk hosted by the Watertown Police, and meet the World Marathon Challenge Champion. The Watertown Police Supervisor’s Association will commemorate the anniversary of the events that led to the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects by inviting the community to fill the streets of Watertown in a celebratory 5K road race. World Marathon Challenge champion Becca Pizzi, of Belmont, who ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days and won them all, will be at the Watertown Strong Race. The event will be Sunday, April 17, 2016 beginning at Tufts Health Plan, 705 Mt. Auburn St.

Arrests

Police Log: Handyman Rips Off Customer, Shoplifter Tries to Climb Fence to Escape

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
March 19, 5 p.m.: Police had a warrant for a Watertown man and had information that he might be staying in the area of Cypress Street. When they were in the area, officers spotted the man coming out of a home on Spruce Street. The 29-year-old Watertown man was arrested on the warrant from Framingham District Court for driving with a suspended license, speeding and a passing violation. March 20, 2:20 p.m: Target security spotted a man cutting the security tag off a Beats Pill portable speaker.

Police/Fire

67-Year-Old Woman Has Purse Stolen While Walking Along Charles River

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State Police called out a search dog to look for a suspect who stole a woman’s purse as she strolled along the Charles River. On March 15 at 4:30 p.m., a 67-year-old woman was walking on the Charles River path on the south side of the river near California Street. Suddenly, a man came from behind, grabbed her purse and she was pushed to the ground, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The woman was not injured in the robbery. The unidentified man then ran across the pedestrian bridge to the side near Pleasant Street. The woman described the suspect as a white male, wearing a grey sweatshirt.