Police/Fire

Watertown Man Found Guilty of Tax Fraud by Federal Court Jury

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The following information was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:

A former owner of restaurants in Boston and Chelsea was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of tax fraud.  

Burhan Ud Din, 50, of Watertown, was convicted following a week-long jury trial of six counts of willful failure to collect and pay over tax, which requires employers to withhold and pay to the IRS certain payroll taxes. Din was acquitted of charges of procuring citizenship contrary to law. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for Nov. 7, 2019. Din defrauded the government and avoided paying payroll taxes owed by a Crown Fried Chicken located in Chelsea and a Kennedy Fried Chicken in Boston in 2010.

Arrests

Police Log: Valuable Stolen from Gym Locker, Motorcycle Stolen

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

July 26, 4:14 p.m.: Police responded to Main Street near Watertown Square for a man who was unresponsive behind the wheel. When they arrived they found the man slumped behind the wheel of a Ford Econoline van with the vehicle in reverse. When the awoke the man, police spoke to the driver and he admitted to consuming alcohol before driving. He attempted to perform field sobriety tests, but said he was too inebriated to do the tests.

Police/Fire

Belmont Police Housing Arrestees in Watertown, Temporarily

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Watertown Police Station

The Watertown Police Station will not only house those arrested in town, but also the suspects taken into custody by the Belmont Police. Wicked Local reports that the housing of arrestees from Belmont in Watertown will take place during the renovation of the Belmont Police Station, which begins Aug. 4. While Watertown will host the Belmont arrestees, Belmont Police will still be responsible for feeding, and transporting those in custody to and from the Watertown Police Station, including court appearances. During the renovation in Belmont, the BPD will be temporarily housed on the property of the Belmont Water Department at 40 Woodland St.

Police/Fire

Watertown Cadets Graduate from Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

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Watertown residents recently completed the the MIddlesex Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Public Safety Academy. The following announcement was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian congratulated over 150 graduates of the Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) from Acton, Belmont, Marlborough, Maynard and Watertown during a ceremony at Chelmsford High School on Friday, July 19, 2019. It was the second of six such graduations planned for this summer. For six weeks each summer, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) offers youngsters ages 8-12 from Middlesex County communities the opportunity to participate in educational and confidence-building activities alongside members of the MSO as well as their local police and fire departments. YPSA staff incorporate multiple learning styles to teach personal safety and teamwork while building relationships between youth and public safety officials. Cadets from Watertown graduated from the MIddlesex Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Public Safety Academy.

Arrests

Police Log: Pair Busted With Open Beers in Car, Man Tries to Shoplift Bike

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

July 21, An officer on Arsenal Street spotted a vehicle accelerate quickly and cause excessive noise due to a suspected altered exhaust system. When the officer followed, the vehicle sped up and was clocked going 42 mph in a 30 mph zone. The vehicle was pulled over and when speaking to the driver and passenger, the officer spotted a case of Heineken beer, but both people in the car were 20-years-old. While checking the records of the occupants, Police found that the passenger had a warrant for his arrest.

Accident

Cyclist Falls Off Bike in Watertown Square, Backs Up Traffic

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A man fell off his bicycle on Mt. Auburn Street near Watertown Square Saturday evening, causing traffic delays in the area. The cyclist appeared to have suffered minor injuries, and was taken to hospital by an ambulance, according to a witness. Another witness said the man fell without being touched by another vehicle. He also was described as acting strangely, possibly intoxicated.

Police/Fire

Police Looking to ID Suspect Seen Looking into Watertown Home

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The young man suspected of peering into the backdoor of a Watertown home. He was chased by the homeowners, whom he threatened. Watertown Police seek a suspect who was spotted looking into the back door of a home on Edward Road, and was chased to a nearby store. On July 18, 2019 at about 3:30 p.m., a resident pulled into his driveway and saw a young man standing at his backdoor. The resident yelled at the suspect, who jumped about 6 feet off the back step.

Around Town

Residents Can Apply to be in Watertown Citizens Police Academy

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Once again this year, the Watertown Police Department will host the Citizen Police Academy, and residents are invited to register. The 2019 Citizen Police Academy will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and will run one night a week for 10 weeks from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Applications must be received by Sept. 13, 2019. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn sent out the following letter:

As the Watertown Police Department advances its community policing efforts, it is important to have citizen-police interaction and cooperation.