Around Town

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Gets Grant to Expand Youth Program

By |

A Youth Public Safety Academy cadet salutes a sheriff’s deputy and Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, right. The following information was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) will be able to expand its capacity by as many as 100 cadets this summer thanks to a $23,000 grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian announced. “Nearly 1,200 youngsters have applied to YPSA this year, and the continuing success of the camp comes from our terrific partnerships with our fellow law enforcement and government agencies,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “Thanks to the Baker Administration and EOPSS, we will be able to hire two extra counselors and purchase the additional equipment necessary to accept 100 more cadets over the course of the summer.  This grant will make a real difference in the lives of these youngsters who may not otherwise be able to attend YPSA.”

This marks the second consecutive year the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) has been awarded the grant through the Commonwealth’s Law Enforcement and Youth Partnerships Summer Day Program.  The initiative, administered by EOPSS, is designed to support summer recreational and educational learning opportunities with local law enforcement. “We are honored to partner with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office to allow more young people to take part in this valuable program,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Thomas Turco. “Creating strong, positive relationships between law enforcement and the community is a priority for us and one that is clearly shared by Sheriff Koutoujian and his team.”

YPSA is a week-long camp designed for children ages 8-12 who live in Middlesex County.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Caught with Meth & Pills, Driver Unsuccessfully Tries to Evade Officers

By |

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

June 18, 7:43 a.m.: A man came into the Police Station because he believed he had a warrant for his arrest. Officers confirmed that the man was wanted on a warrant from Waltham District Court from 1992. The 51-year-old man from West Valley, Utah, was arrested on a total of four warrants from Waltham District Court, Cambridge District Court and Stoughton District Court. June 20, 8:42 a.m.: Police responded to a call for a man who was trespassing at the Watertown Housing building on Waverley Avenue.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest Armed Robbery Suspect Who has a Prior Record

By |

Joseph Boyda, 44, of Worcester, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery in Watertown. Watertown Police arrested a Worcester man for the armed robbery of a hair salon on Wednesday. Police located Joseph Boyda, 44, and place him under arrest on Thursday for armed robbery while masked. He was arraigned in Waltham District Court on Friday, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. On Wednesday at about 7 p.m., Boyda allegedly robbed the Behind the Hair salon on Main Street in Watertown while wearing a mask and sunglasses.

Armed Robbery

Armed Man Robs Watertown Hair Salon With Customers Inside

By |

Watertown Police seek a man who held up a hair salon Wednesday evening with what turned out to be a gun that shoots blanks. Shortly after 7 p.m., a man wearing a mask came into a busy Behind the Hair salon on Main Street and robbed it with what appeared to be a gun, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor

“He fired a round and we were able to recover a casing,” O’Connor said. “It was determined it is in fact a starter pistol round.” The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money, and then left the store from the back. He is believed to have fled on a bicycle heading east toward Watertown Square.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Battled 2-Alarm Fire Sunday Morning

By |

Parts of a 2.5 story home in East Watertown were damaged by a fire on Sunday morning, and one firefighter suffered an injury. The alarm came in at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 23 for the home at 51 Quimby Street, according to Watertown, and Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson, the incident commander, called for a second alarm at 8:13 a.m.

The fire did extensive damage to the third floor apartment in the home, and the other two floors had smoke and water damage, according to the report released by Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn. View this post on Instagram This morning Group 2 responded to a structure fire on Quimby Street. Two alarms were ordered by Deputy Chief Nicholson to control the blaze. All occupants evacuated safely.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Arrested on 8 Warrants, Rash of Stolen Packages

By |

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

June 13, 2:17 p.m.: An employee at Sasaki Associates on Pleasant Street called 911 after an uninvited man was acting strangely inside the business. The man was seen walking around inside Sasaki’s offices and when he was confronted he became belligerent and used racial slurs. He then left and headed down the nearby Charles River Walk. An employee got a photo of the man and police were able to locate him on Pleasant Street near Howard Street.

Police/Fire

Thieves Break Into Watertown Convenience Store

By |

Police seek the two men broke into a convenience store on the Southside of Watertown. On Sunday, June 16 at 7:19 p.m., police responded to a front-door alarm at the Bus Stop Variety convenience store on Galen Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “The business was closed and the door was ajar,” O’Connor said. “It was obvious the door frame had been damaged.” When police arrived, no one was in the store but items had been taken, O’Connor said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Join Other Departments to Patrol Along Charles River

By |

Police from Watertown, Waltham, Newton and the State Police will patrol the Charles River this summer. Pictured L to R, Capt. Dowling (Newton PD), Capt. Rodley (Waltham PD), Lt. Dear (MSP
Brighton), Chief Lawn, Capt. Dupuis

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

The Massachusetts State Police, Waltham Police Department, Watertown Police Department, and Newton Police Department, along with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, are partnering in a summer initiative to enhance safety along the Riverwalk and other parkland along the Charles River Upper Basin. Troopers and Officers this weekend will launch Project Safe Summer, a joint patrol initiative that recognizes the four police agencies’ shared responsibility to enhance public safety along this serene area popular with walkers, runners, cyclists, and nature lovers. Teams consisting of members from each of the four departments will patrol the Upper Basin parklands and work collaboratively to address quality-of-life issues and other public concerns. The joint teams will patrol the area at various times, supplementing existing regular patrols.