Police/Fire

Charges Dropped Against Man Arrested for Wearing Ammo Belt

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Suffolk County prosecutors dropped charges against a Watertown man who was arrested Friday when he wore an “ammo belt” made from fake bullets when he got onto an MBTA bus. Kevin Young, 26, appeared in Brighton District Court Monday facing charges of unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawfully carried dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. Those charges were dismissed, however, according to a WBZ News report. Prosecutors determined the ammunition “could not and weren’t intended to be fired,” according to the WBZ report. Passengers on the bus which Young boarded in Brighton called 911 fearing that he might have a gun (see more here).

Police/Fire

Woman Attacks Teen at Sporting Goods Store with Lacrosse Stick

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A woman faces assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges after she allegedly hit a teen-aged boy with a lacrosse stick. The woman had been shopping at Sports Authority with her daughter on the afternoon of July 6 when she began yelling at the 14-year-old boy, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “The woman said the boy was looking at her and said something to her daughter,” Lawn said. “She picked up a lacrosse stick and hit him with it.” Security said the women then left the store and she was later located by police.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Busted for Indecently Touching Young Girl at Pool

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Waltham Police arrested a Watertown man after he allegedly indecently touched an 11-year-old girl at a state pool. 

Victor Lopez, 37, of Watertown, was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to a report by WCVB Channel 5 News. Lopez, who is a Guatemalan citizen, was also forced to give up his passport. The incident occurred Saturday at the Connors Memorial Swimming Pool in Waltham. The girl told her mother that a man grabbed her in her “privates,” according to the WCVB report. A Watertown man was charged with indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl at a state swimming pool in Waltham Saturday.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested for Wearing ‘Ammo Belt’ on MBTA Bus

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The \”ammo belt\” worn by a Watertown man, and which landed him in hot water. Boston Police arrested a Watertown man after he boarded an MBTA bus wearing a what appeared to be a strip of ammunition around his waist. On Friday at about 4:20 p.m police responded to a bus that pulled over at Cambridge and Harvard streets in Brighton, according to the Boston Police Department’s website, BPDNews.com. {See and update on the case by clicking here}. “Officers learned that the driver had pulled the bus over as passengers began calling 911 when a male suspect boarded the bus with what appeared to be military grade ammunition strapped around his waist,” said the police report.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Attacks 2 Police Officers, Shoplifters Try to Take Big Items from Target

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 29, 10:01 p.m.: A motor vehicle accident occurred on Landon Avenue and when police arrived they detected an odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath. The driver suffered injuries and was taken to Mount Auburn Hospital for treatment. Police later discovered the driver had prescriptions pills. The 54-year-old Watertown woman was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, and driving under the influence of drugs.

Around Town

Local Reporter Gets Award for Piece on Fire that Killed Fire Lt. Ed Walsh

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A radio report on the fire that killed two Boston firefighters, including Watertown native Ed Walsh, won a national award, and was made by a local man. 

WBUR’s Bruce Gellerman – who lives in Watertown – won first place in the PRNDI (Public Radio News Director Incorporated) Awards in the Nationally Edited Breaking News category. His story, “Two Boston Firefighters Die In Nine-Alarm Blaze,” chronicled the deadly Back Bay fire that killed Boston Fire Lt. Ed Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy in March 2014. Listen to the story by clicking here. While Walsh worked in Boston, he was laid to rest and honored in his hometown of Watertown with great fanfare. Thousands of firefighters gathered in Watertown, shutting down Main Street for the wake and funeral (see photos here). The PRNDI awards recognize excellent journalism produced in 2014 in new arts and sports feature categories as well as or multimedia, nationally edited, and student work.

Police/Fire

Pregnant Woman Struck by Car While Crossing Mt. Auburn St.

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A pregnant woman went to hospital after being struck by a car while crossing Mt. Auburn Street. 

The incident occurred in front of the St. James Armenian Church near School Street on June 24 shortly before 8 p.m., said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “The 26-year-old female had just gotten off the bus and was crossing in the crosswalk when she was struck by a motor vehicle operated by a 19-year-old male from Waltham,” Lawn said. Watertown Firefighters and EMTs responded to the incident and treated the woman, said Deputy Fire Chief Bob Quinn.

Government

LETTER: Former Council President Reacts to Firefighter Contract Dispute

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Editor,

I am writing regarding the Bullet Points [see below for full text] presented by the Town Manager, on June 9, 2015, that was clearly crafted by Kopelman and Paige and accepted by eight of nine of the Watertown’s Town Council regarding the role of the Council. Clearly the Town Council is the duly elected appropriating body of the “City, Known as the Town of Watertown.” Interestingly, either by omission or deliberate, the Town Attorney, or should I bluntly state, The Manager’s Attorney fails to include in the Manager’s discourse that the Town Council is also the elected Policy Making Body for the Town. It is my impression that the Councilors may not be as knowledgeable of the Charter as one would expect and/or are shielding themselves behind a permeable shield that is easily penetrated. In the many years I served on the Council/School Committee, we provided policy guidance and direction to the Town Manager and School Superintendent on matters of collective bargaining with our valued public servants.