Police Log: Man Seen Trying to Get into Cars, Shoplifter Busted at Target

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

None

Incidents

Nov. 30, 12:04 p.m.: A Woodleigh Road resident spotted an unknown man walking around the area at about 2 a.m. The man walked up and down the street with a flashlight in his hand. Several times he pulled at the door handles of vehicles. Then he went on the resident’s property, pulled on vehicle door handles, and then tried the back door.

Police Log: Man Caught Using Multiple Stolen Credit Cards, Suspicious Man Seen in Yard

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

Nov. 22, 2:53 p.m.: A man was stopped at Target after the store got multiple reports from four people out of the area who said someone was using their credit card at the Watertown store. Police were in the store on another matter and security informed them about the man who had been seen on video at the self checkout for more than 35 minutes. Security found that he fraudulently used several credit card numbers which he had loaded onto his Samsung Pay cellphone app.

Chimney Fire Damages Home on Belmont Street

Minor damage was done to a Belmont Street home Tuesday by a fire that began in the chimney. At about 7 a.m., the Watertown Fire Department received call for smoke coming from the attic of a single-family home, said Provisional Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. “Upon arrival fire companies found a smoke condition in the attic and on the second floor. Thermal imaging cameras were used to determine the heat source between the second and third floors,” Nicholson said. Watertown Fire Engines 3 and 1, Ladders 1 and 2, Medic 1, and C2 responded.

Watertown Police Catch Pair of Men with “Ghost Gun”

Watertown Police DepartmentThe “ghost gun” recovered by Watertown Police during a traffic stop. The Watertown Police confiscated a “ghost gun” along with a high-capacity magazine and other items during and arrest made after making a traffic stop on Sunday, Nov. 13. Denis Amaral De Abreau, 20, of Boston, was pulled over after officers stopped his vehicle for speeding at 1:35 a.m. on Nov. 13.

City Planning to Appeal Decision in Sexual Discrimination Case Involving the Police Department

Charlie BreitroseWatertown Police Station

The City of Watertown will be appealing the verdict and award of a Middlesex Superior Court jury that ruled in favor of a former Watertown Police detective who sued for sexual discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. On Thursday, the jury ruled in favor of Kathleen Donohue on both matters, and awarded her $4.3 million in back pay, future earnings, and damages, including $1 million in punitive damages. The City disagreed with the jury’s decision, said Doug Louison of Louison, Costello, Condon and Pfaff, one of Watertown’s attorneys in the case. “I think we’re looking at the case very closely again right now,” Louison said. “We strongly disagree with the jury’s conclusion.

Watertown Man Arrested for Fraud Related to African Sports Ventures

The following announcement came from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston:

A Watertown man was arrested today for allegedly defrauding investors who believed they were financing lucrative short-term sports ventures in Africa. Adrian Kawuba, 33, was charged with one count of wire fraud. Kawuba will appear in federal court in Boston at 2:30 p.m. today before United States Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. According to the charging documents, Kawuba told his investors that he would invest their money in short-term financing of sports ventures in Africa and elsewhere overseas and that he would personally guarantee their investments. It is alleged however, that Kawuba did not invest any of the funds he received from victim investors.