Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested for Dealing Cocaine After Drug Sting

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A Watertown man was arrested on drug charges by the Watertown Police, working in conjunction with the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force. Vartan Halvadijian, of Watertown, was arrested on charges of posessiont to distribute a Class B drug (cocaine) – a subsequent offense, possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without a license. Police also seized approximately $9,500, a loaded Colt .22 caliber firearm, and approximately 10 grams of cocaine.

Police/Fire

UPDATED: Main Street Reopens After Downed Utilities Poles, Live Wires, Close Roadway

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{Updated at 12:37 p.m. on May 8, 2018}

Watertown Police have reopened Main Street after two downed utility poles closed the roadway at about 10 a.m. Wednesday. The wires were taken down by an 18-wheel truck heading westbound on Main Street which snapped wires and pulled the poles down at French Street, according to Watertown Police. They poles had electrical wires, which remained live when the poles came down.  Crews from Eversource and Verizon responded to the scened, and repaired the poles and wires. Police announced that Main Street has been reopened at about 12:20 p.m., but French Street remains closed. The downed poles also caused the MBTA to detour the 70 and 70A buses.

Arrests

Police Log: Car Catches Fire in Parking Garage, Strange Capsules Found in Boots from Target

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
April 23, 7:52 p.m.: Police responded to a call from the Arsenal Mall, and when officers arrived they found Marshall’s security guards holding a suspect. Security spotted the man take a pair of blue Nike sneakers off the shelf and put them on. Then he put his old sneakers in the box and placed it back on the shelf. The man left the store, and security stopped him.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Local Insurance Agency Thanks Watertown Police an Anniversary of Capture of Bombers

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{The following post was provided by H&K Insurance.}

On April 19th, 2018, five years after the Boston Marathon bombing suspect died in a violent shootout in Watertown, Massachusetts, H&K Insurance hosted a breakfast for the Watertown Police and Fire Department to commensurate the anniversary of this pivotal day. From 10 to 12, a group of hungry officers entered the Community Room to be served hot scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and others pastries – the biggest commodity of them all being coffee. Lining the wall was a buffet style breakfast with a twist, the H&K staff stood one by one to serve them as they serve us every single day. “We are very thankful to the Watertown Police and Fire Department for all of their hard work and service to the community. In wake of what happened five years ago, we couldn’t think of a better way to show our appreciation by preparing a hearty breakfast,” remarked Brian Kilcoyne, President of H&K Insurance.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Woman Arrested for Driving Stolen Car, Hose Stuffed up Car’s Tailpipe

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
April 16, 7:26 p.m.: Police arrived at the Target parking lot and found a security guard with a suspect who had a brown piece luggage with five bottles of champagne inside. When the man saw the police officers, he dropped the bag and ran. Officers caught him after a brief chase The champagne was worth $297.44. Security told police the man had been spotted taking items from the store on two previous occasions.

Police/Fire

Several Hundred Join the 2018 Watertown Finish Strong 5K Run and Walk

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Nearly 600 runners came out on a rainy Sunday morning to celebrate the Watertown Strong spirit inspired by the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombings and the capture of the bombing suspects in Watertown five years ago. The fourth annual Watertown Police Finish Strong 5K Run and Walk started and ended at Tufts Health Plan. Despite the poor conditions hundreds participated. Among those at the race this were Boston Marathon Bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and one of the people who helped injured people after the bombing, Carlos Arredondo. The race is run by the Watertown Police Relief Association, Watertown Supervisors Association and Watertown Patrol Officers Association.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Holding Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday

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The Watertown Police Department will hold a Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 28. The organizers sent out the following information:

Do you have unused or expired prescription medications in your home? Dispose of them the in a safe way! Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 28, 2018 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Bring medication you no longer need to the Watertown Police Department 552 Main Street, Watertown

A medication drop-box is available 24/7 in the front lobby. Liquids or syringes are not accepted.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Faces Federal Charges of Making False Statements to Gain Citizenship

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston sent out the following statement:
A former owner of restaurants in Boston and Chelsea was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with committing fraud to obtain U.S. citizenship. 
Burhan Ud Din, 49, of Watertown, was charged in a superseding indictment with one count of conspiracy, six counts of willful failure to collect and pay over tax, one count of making false statements under oath in a naturalization matter, and one count of procurement of naturalization contrary to law. Din was initially indicted for tax fraud in August 2017; the superseding indictment adds the naturalization allegations to the charges against him. Din’s co-conspirators, Hazrat Khan, 58, of Middletown, NY, and Khurshed Iqbal, 58, both Pakistani nationals, were separately charged in an April 2017 18-count superseding indictment with conspiracy and willful failure to pay over taxes. In November 2017, Khan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Iqbal’s whereabouts are unknown.