Business

Kids in Need Get to Shop with a Cop for Christmas Presents at Target

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Dozens of children from Watertown and Brighton got a special Christmas treat this week when they got to pick out toys and other gifts for themselves at Target with a police officer. Shop With a Cop has become a tradition at Watertown Target. This year about 40 children who may not have a gift got to have some pizza before heading out into the aisles to look for gifts. Each received a $50 gift card to spend. “We’ve been doing this for the last three or four years,” said Jonathan Kingsley, Target’s district loss prevention manager.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Warn: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

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Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, the Watertown Police Department will join the 202 local law enforcement agencies and the Massachusetts State Police running extra patrols through the New Year as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization, the Watertown Police announced. This campaign is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD). “When you make the choice to drive drunk, people get injured and killed,” said Sergeant David Sampson. “The safest way to get home is to never drink and drive.  If you plan on drinking at a holiday party or at a restaurant, take a taxi or public transportation or hand the keys over to a sober friend.”

The National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2014 in Massachusetts, 133 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Nationally, in December of 2013, there were 733 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, and 23 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day. Getting caught drunk behind the wheel is no small matter; you face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other OUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.

Pedestrian Struck

UPDATED: Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle Near Mt. Auburn Street, Taken to Hospital

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A pedestrian was struck on Adams Avenue near Mt. Auburn Street, late Tuesday morning. 

According to scanner reports, the pedestrian was trapped under the vehicle. After being freed, the person was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Watertown Police announced that a pedestrian was struck on a driveway on Adams Avenue. The accident was reported at 11:16 a.m. The adult pedestrian suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

Arrests

Police Log: Home Broken Into, Christmas Decorations Stolen

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Dec. 1, 5:27 p.m.:  A woman was spotted in Target taking out an empty bag and filling it with numerous items and tried to leave the store without paying. The items were worth a total of $488. While police investigated the incident they found she had a pill container with various medications inside.

Police/Fire

Schools, Police Respond to Threat at Middle School via Social Media

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School official removed a Watertown Middle School student from the school who reportedly sent a threat on social media last week. 

The threat occurred on Instagram on Nov. 30, but school officials did not hear about it right away. When they did, they contacted the Watertown Police, Watertown Police Lt. Dan Unsworth said at Monday’s School Committee meeting. “Early on it was determined it was a 13 year old student at the middle school,” Unsworth said. “We don’t believe it was directed at anyone.”

Police/Fire

Police Warn Residents to Lock Cars After String of Break Ins

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Watertown Police advise residents to lock their cars at night, following a series of recent car break ins around town. 

Dozens of cars were broken into around town last week, all of them left unlocked, according to Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. Police responded to 15-20 vehicle break ins on the following streets: Fayette Stret, Cashman Street, Highland Avenue, Heather Road, Copeland Street, Pearl Street, Marshall Street, Boyd Street and King Street. All of the vehicles were rummaged through, and mostly change was taken, however a laptop computer was taken from one car.

AA Rental

Construction Vehicle Rented in Watertown, Sold on Craigslist

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A construction vehicle rented out by a Watertown company went missing, and was sold on Craigslist, according to Watertown Police. AA Rental received an order from a company they had worked with before for a front end loader and a utility trailer and took a credit card from the renter. When the loader and trailer were not returned, the AA Rental tried to use the credit card but found it was no longer good and they found the person was impersonating the company they normally work with, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. The items are worth a combined $30,000. An investigation discovered the items had been sold on Craig’s List, and found this was a scam that has occurred around New England.

Charity

Foundation Honoring Former Police Officer Collecting Gifts for Kids

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Each year, the Whooley Foundation gathers gifts to make sure that no child in Watertown goes without a present during the holidays. The Watertown Police Department sent out the following announcement:

The Whooley Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in the memory of John “Sonny” Whooley a Watertown Police Officer, resident, father and husband. He loved the community and served it for over 30 years as a Watertown Police Sergeant. He always had a special place in his heart for those less fortunate than himself. He would always strive to make others just a little happier during the holidays.