Police/Fire

Police Log: Party Guest Gets Out of Control, Chimney Repair Scam

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

May 22, 3:39 a.m.: Police received a report of a suspicious man at Arsenal Mall. Security spotted a man looking into windows at Marshalls, and then was seen inside the parking garage. The man went into a port-o-potty and would not come out until police arrived. When he did, police spoke to the man and learned that he had a warrant for his arrest.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Electric Bicycle Stolen, Counterfeit Bill Used

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

May 18, 5:57 p.m.: Officers patrolling on Arsenal Street near Greenough Boulevard spotted a man they knew to have a warrant for his arrest. Michael Halner, 40, of Watertown, was placed under arrest on the warrant out of Waltham District Court for two counts of threats to commit a crime. 

May 19, 3:18 p.m.: A shoplifter at Target left the store. Store security gave Police a description and officers located him at a bus stop on Arsenal Street. The man walked past the registers with a large tote bag which made a clanking sound as he walked.

Police/Fire

Knife Wielding Man Tried to Rob Watertown Massage Spa, Resembles Suspect in Similar Incident

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Images of the suspect or suspects in armed robberies of massage businesses in Watertown, on the left, and Cambridge on the right. Police said it could be the same man. (Photos courtesy of the Watertown Police Department). On May 16, a man came into a Watertown massage spa carrying a knife and demanded money from an employee. Watertown Police said the suspect resembles a man wanted for robbing a massage business in Cambridge.

Police/Fire

Watertown Father & Son Get Prison Sentence Prison for Lottery and Tax Fraud Scheme

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The following announcement was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:

A father and son were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for orchestrating an elaborate “ten-percenting” scheme involving dozens of convenience stores across Massachusetts. The defendants unlawfully claimed more than 14,000 winning lottery tickets, laundered over $20 million in proceeds, and then lied on their tax returns. The result was more than $6 million in federal tax loss. As a direct result of this case, the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission is in the process of revoking or suspending the licenses of more than 40 of its lottery agents. Ali Jaafar, 63, and Yousef Jaafar, 29, both of Watertown, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to five years and 50 months in prison, respectively, in addition to orders of restitution in the amount of $6,082,578 and forfeiture of their profits from the scheme.

Police/Fire

City’s Motions for New Trial & Reduce Damages Fail in Sexual Discrimination Suit by Female Police Officer

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(Note: The original story incorrectly said the City appealed the original decision. The City filed post-trial motions.)

A Middlesex Superior Court Judge denied the City of Watertown’s motions to seek a new trial in the civil suit case filed by a former female police officer who won her suit against the Police Department for sexual discrimination and retaliation. On May 19, Judge John P. Pappas released his ruling on the post-trial motions to the case in which a jury ruled in favor of Kathleen Donohue in November. The jury in that case awarded Watertown’s first female detective $1 million in punitive damages, plus $2.26 million in future earnings and $1.22 million to cover her legal fees and costs. Pappas denied the new trial or to overturn the jury’s decision and/or award.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Road Rage Incident, Shoplifter Who Gave False Name Has 7 Arrest Warrants

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

May 12 11:51  a.m.: Police were called after two men were seen taking items from the toy and electronics sections at Target. The men had left before officers arrived, but one was located at the Residence Inn by Marriott, and the other at Dunkin’ on Arsenal Street. The first man, identified as Joshua Walsh, 35, of Middlborough, took headphones, a toy squirt gun and a backpack. Police found he had a warrant from Waltham District Court for shoplifting.

Police/Fire

“Natural” Fire That Damaged Watertown Home Started in Mulch

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Watertown Fire DepartmentFirefighters from Watertown and several area communities battled the three-alarm fire on Maple Street. Fire investigators determined that a fire that damaged a multifamily home in Watertown was started by a “natural” cause. On Thursday afternoon a three alarm blaze struck a home on Maple Street. Provisional Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson said it started outside th home. “Our fire investigator has classified this fire as ‘Natural,’ and determined the cause to be fresh mulch which ignited from direct sunlight heating and extended to trash barrels in direct contact,” provisional Watertown fire Chief Ryan Nicholson said in a statement.