Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest Man Suspected of Having Child Pornography

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A Watertown man faces charges of possession of child pornography after an investigation by Watertown Police. Police, working with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force searched a home in West Watertown on Wednesday and took Patrick Athridge into custody. Watertown Police posted the following announcement on social media on April 3, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.:

Chief Justin Hanrahan announces that on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at approximately 6:00 PM in the West End of Watertown members of the Watertown Police Department, in collaboration with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, executed a search warrant in Watertown. As a result of the investigation, Mr. Patrick Athridge was taken into custody and charged with possession of child pornography. Mr. Athridge is scheduled to be arraigned later today in Waltham District Court.

Around Town

Armenian Photo Archive Celebrates 50 Years; Runs Exhibit Space in Watertown, Holding Event the Library

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A photo from the Project Save archive, which preserves the Armenian experience. (Courtesy of Project Save)

Project Save, the photo archive that has preserved original photographs, the stories, identities, and histories of the Armenian diaspora celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, and has opened an exhibition space in Watertown where the public can view changing exhibits. A temporary exhibition is now on display at the Watertown Library. The organization began in the 1960s when founder Ruth Tomasian was living in New York City. It was officially registered in 1975.

Government

Gov. Healey Concerned About Impacts of Federal Funding Cuts & Tariffs, Sees Housing as State’s Biggest Challenge

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Gov. Maura Healey speaks with Charles River Chamber President & CEO Greg Reibman during the Chamber’s Government Affairs Forum on March 31. (Photo by Leise Jones)

NEWTON — Gov. Maura Healey worries about the uncertainty in the economy created by policies coming out of Washington, as well as federal funding cuts negatively impacting some of Massachusetts’ biggest industries, she told an audience at the Charles River Regional Chamber event on Monday. Other challenges to maintaining one of the strongest economies in the United States includes creating more housing and the cost of energy, Healey said at the Chamber’s Government Affairs Forum at the Newton Marriott. Congressman Jake Auchincloss also appeared at the event. Massachusetts receives the most NIH (National Institute of Health) funding per capita, but that funding — some of which is used for life science research and development — may be at risk if cuts are made by the Trump Administration.

Entertainment

Watertown Woman Pens First Novel at Age 83, Based on Her Humanitarian Work in Africa

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A former political science professor who started an humanitarian organization working in Africa, has written her debut novel at age 83. Watertown’s Judy Dushku will have multiple events for her book, “Is This the Way Home?” The book is described in the Zoom event announcement as “a powerful fictional account of one woman and her family, offering a window into the struggles of thousands: war, abduction, marginalization, and the challenge of raising children born in the bush. Through her writing, she hopes to raise awareness of these survivors and inspire readers to seek their own paths to healing.” After 47-year career as a professor of comparative politics at Suffolk University, focusing on African politics and women’s studies, Dusku continued her work in Gulu, Uganda.

Police/Fire

Council Committee Exploring Cost of Adding a Second Fire Department-Run Ambulance

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The Watertown Fire Department has run its own ambulance since 1975, and has offered paramedic service since 2017. The one ambulance cannot always cover all the calls, however, and the City Council is looking at whether to add a second ambulance. Currently, when the WFD’s ambulance is not available, Watertown uses Pro EMS, a private ambulance company in Cambridge. Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson told the City Council’s Committee of the Budget and Fiscal Oversight that there is a significant difference in response time depending on which ambulance is dispatched. “Regarding response times, National Fire Protection Association standards require emergency medical services to respond within 9 minutes 90 percent of the time,” Nicholson said, according to the Committee report.

Police/Fire

Two Protesters Struck by Truck Mirror Near Tesla Facility, No Serious Injuries Occurred

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Two people were struck by a vehicle’s side mirror during a protest at the Tesla repair facility on Pleasant Street in Watertown Saturday. No serious injuries were reported. Watertown Police officers, who were on the scene of what is becoming a weekly protest, attended to the two people struck. Both refused medical treatment, according to the statement from the WPD. Police also identified a suspect, but no further information was released.

Police/Fire

Third Group of Suspects in Busted Multi-State Brothel Identified

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A third set of alleged customers of a multi-state prostitution ring that used local luxury apartments, including in Watertown, were revealed on Friday. Among the apartment buildings in which the brothel operated out of was Blvd & Bond apartments in Arsenal Yards in Watertown, as well as buildings in Watertown, Cambridge, Dedham Virginia and California. The 10 men identified in court Friday, according to NBC10 Boston, include: Amrit Chaudhuri of Brookline, Mitchell Rubenstein of Chestnut Hill, Marshall Berenson of Cambridge, Harmanpreet Singh of Woburn, Kenneth Posco of Fitchburg, George Wu of Needham, Patrick Enright of Wakefield, Suren Chelian of Lexington, Sankara Asapu of Malden, and John Cascarano of Hingham. The Boston Globe reported that the court “identified a complaint that police sought” against Paul J. Urban of East Bridgewater. He did not receive the proper summons, so his hearing will take place on April 25.