Police/Fire

Watertown Police Seek ID of Driver of Car in Hit-and-Run Involving Dog

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Police seek help identifying the driver of a car that was in a hit and run incident in Watertown involving a dog that occurred last week just down the street from Cunniff School. The Watertown Police Department provided the following information on its social media:

Watertown PD is attempting to identify the owner of the attached MV that was involved in a Hit and Run accident, involving a dog. This incident occurred on Thursday July 18, 2024, at approximately 5:30PM. The vehicle was traveling East on Warren St. by King St.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Chief Announces 2 Promotions

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The Watertown Police announced the promotion of Kenneth Swift and Mark Leitner. Pictured left to right: Captain Delaney, Sgt. Leitner, Chief Hanrahan, Lt. Swift and Captain Unsworth. (Courtesy of Watertown Police)

Two members of the Watertown Police Department have been promoted. See Police Chief Justin Hanrahan’s announcement.

Police/Fire

Police Get Public’s Help ID’ing Driver Who Damaged Watertown Restaurant

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The red pickup that struck Jana Grill on Galen Street. The photo was released by Watertown Police. Watertown Police have received help identifying the vehicle who slammed into the side of Jana Grill on Galen Street. The restaurant has closed temporarily due to the damage from the incident. The Watertown Police sent out the following request seeking public assistance on Wednesday, July 3:

Watertown PD is still looking to identify the driver and vehicle involved in an accident that occurred at 2:20am on Monday morning.

Police/Fire

Retiring Watertown Detective to Share His Crime Investigating Knowledge & Work on Cold Cases

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Longtime Watertown Police Detective David MacNeil is moving on to new challenges, including teaching crime scene investigation and working on cold cases. (Photo by Leah O’Brien Photography)

During his time at the Watertown Police Department, David MacNeil has trained at national crime investigation centers, taught trainings himself, he was the inspiration for a character in books and movies, and he got to visit Scotland Yard. Now, in his retirement, the Watertown native plans to share what he’s learned with others in law enforcement, and to help solve cold cases. MacNeil retired at the end of April after 36 years as a Watertown Police officer, including the last 22 as a detective. He is now the president of MacNeil Investigations & Forensic Consulting where he will focus on private investigations, and training law enforcement in crime scene investigation practices and forensic science.

Police/Fire

UPDATED: Statewide 911 Outage Over

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UPDATE: The Massachusetts 911 system has been restored. The public may now resume calling 911 for emergencies. Thank you for your patience + cooperation. 

The State 911 Department continues to investigate the cause of the disruption. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Fire and Police departments regarding issues with 911 service:

There is a statewide 911 outage. To reach Watertown Fire or Police please call 617-972-6500 or pull one of the 300+ red fire boxes throughout the city.

Police/Fire

Details of How a Man Tricked a Watertown Woman Into Ending Her Pregnancy Revealed, Suspect Arraigned

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The man accused of giving a Watertown woman medicine that, unknown to her, would end her pregnancy, was arraigned in Court on Tuesday. More details of how he tricked his ex-girlfriend were revealed. Robert Kawada, 43, of Brookline, was charged with poisoning, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a pregnant person and assault and battery on a household or family member. Also, he was held on $100,000 bail, ordered to stay away from the victim, and to wear a GPS device, according to WCVB Channel 5. The woman met Kawada on a dating app in January, and they went on a few dates.

Police/Fire

Brookline Man Arrested for Misleading Woman into Taking Medication to End Pregnancy

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The Watertown Police and Middlesex District Attorney’s Office provided the following announcement:

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Watertown Chief of Police Justin Hanrahan have confirmed that Robert Kawada, 43, of Brookline has been charged with poisoning, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on pregnant person and assault and battery on a household or family member in connection with misleading a woman, who was known to him, into taking medication to end her pregnancy. The preliminary investigation suggests that Kawada and the victim were in a dating relationship and that the victim became pregnant. Kawada is alleged to have secretly given the victim medication under the guise that he was giving her iron pills and vitamins. That medication was actually intended to end the pregnancy. After the victim had been given the pills, one of which is believed to be Misoprostol, the victim suffered a miscarriage.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Arrested for Unarmed Robbery, Multiple Checks Stolen Out of Mail

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. May 15, 3 p.m.: A woman mailed her electric bill to Eversource in April, putting it in a mailbox at School Street and Putnam Street. On May 15, she received a message from Rockland Trust saying her account was overdrawn. She saw that a check had been altered and made out to Khamarin Wizard and for $19,700. Police and the bank are investigating.