Police/Fire

Watertown Police Joining Drive Sober Campaign Which Focuses on Alcohol, Marijuana

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

The Watertown Police Department will increase impaired driving patrols on local roads with grant funds from the Highway Safety Division of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). Watertown Police will join local departments across the state as well as the Massachusetts State Police in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization and public information campaign. This year’s campaign will urge drivers drinking alcohol or using marijuana and other drugs to plan ahead and designate a sober driver, use a ride-share service or take public transportation. “Impaired drivers create dangerous situations for everyone around them,” said Chief Lawn. “This grant will help increase our efforts during the busy summer travel season to keep our roads free of impaired drivers and avoid tragedies.”

“Getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, using marijuana or both is one of the most dangerous things drivers can do,” said Jeff Larason, Director of the Highway Safety Division.

Firearms

Watertown Man Faces Charges After Leaving Gun on Trunk of Vehicle

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A Watertown man faces criminal charges after leaving his pistol sitting on top of a vehicle in his driveway. 

Late on the morning of Aug. 5, Watertown Police received a report of a firearm sitting on the hood of a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home on Waltham Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “(Officers) located a 9 mm loaded pistol on the hood of a Jeep Cherokee,” said O’Connor, who added that it had a magazine loaded and a round in the chamber. Police knocked on the door of the home and a 15-year-old boy answered, but he did not own the pistol. The home, O’Connor said, is also close to Bemis Park.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Stopped for Walking Around With Knife, German Chocolate Scam

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
July 24, 2:47 p.m.: Police received multiple calls from concerned people about a man who was acting strange and carrying a knife on Patten Street, off Mt. Auburn Street. Officers located the man, who was still carrying a knife in one hand and a kitchen stool in the other. The officers were able to calm the man and he put the knife down.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Officer Signs Off for Last Time, Hear His Police Radio Farewell

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Watertown Police Officer David Gilchrist did not want a big deal made about his last shift before retirement, so his fellow officers gave him a final farewell via the Police Radio. Gilchrist, who worked on the overnight shift his entire career, completed his last shift Wednesday morning after serving the residents of Watertown for more than 32 years. The Watertown Police captured this moment and shared it on its Facebook page. See and hear it below:

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Multi-State Prostitution Ring

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The following piece was produced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston:

A Watertown man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with his role in a long-running interstate prostitution ring. 

Jineok Kim, 38, of Watertown, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce individuals to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution and one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Co-defendant Susan Bashir, a/k/a “Susan Redmon,” 41 of Stone Mountain, Ga., pleaded guilty on July 25, 2018 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 8, 2018. Co-defendant Kyung Song, 52, of Lexington, Mass. is scheduled to plead guilty on Aug.

Main Street

Oil Spill Closes Part of Main Street, Could be Closed for Days

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An oil leak on Main Street caused quite a mess on the roadway, and with traffic, which had to be rerouted late Monday and into Tuesday near Watertown Square. 

An underground pipe leaked and leaking mineral oil, on Main Street between Whites Avenue and Cuba Street, was discovered around 8 p.m. on Monday, according to an announcement from the Town of Watertown. Eversource and Clean Harbors responded to the area, and traffic was diverted from Waverley Avenue to Spring Street in Watertown Square. “This is one big mess we got going on right here,” Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn told WHDH Channel 7. An environmental consultant working for Eversource examined the oil and found that no PCBs were present in the spilled liquid, according to the Town. The mineral oil encases some pipes owned by Eversource that contain electrical lines, police told Fox Channel 25.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Threatens Library Employee, Driver Arrested on 3rd OUI Charge

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
July 16, 8:36 p.m.: Police were alerted about a woman wanted on warrants, and they located her on Pilgrim Road. The 41-year-old Watertown woman was arrested on the warrants out of Waltham District Court, a default warrant for larceny under $1,200 and a second default warrant for driving with a suspended license and marked lanes violation. July 21, 8:18 p.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square saw a vehicle run a red light going from Galen Street onto Main Street. The driver was stopped on Main near Whites Avenue.

Police/Fire

Police Respond to Suicide at Watertown Cemetery

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Watertown Police responded to a death at a Westside cemetery on Thursday morning, and have ruled the incident a suicide. A resident walking a dog spotted the body in the Ridgelawn Cemetery, near the fence separating the cemetery from the Cunniff School. Police were alerted at about 6 a.m., said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The adult male had been there a few hours, police estimate, when he was found. It took several hours for Watertown Police to identify the man, O’Connor said.