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.

Police/Fire

3 Alarm Fire Damages Multifamily Home in Watertown

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Watertown Fire DepartmentFlames blaze out of the roof of a multifamily home on Maple Street on Thursday. Flames could be seen coming out of the roof of a multifamily home on Maple Street Thursday afternoon. Watertown Firefighters, with help of several departments, were able to contain the three-alarm fire to just that structure. The call for a fire came in at about 3 p.m. on May 11, said Provisional Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. “Upon arrival we found a fire that appeared to start on the exterior at the ground level and travel up and into the third floor for a multi family home,” Nicholson said.

Police/Fire

Police Log: False Report Draws Large Police Response, Shoplifter Spits at Officer

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

April 25, 11:03 a.m.: An officer was flagged down and got a report of a man urinating outside their vehicle into the roadway on Main Street near Waverley Avenue. The car was seen heading toward Waltham. The officer headed in that direction and another person flagged him down to tell him about a vehicle stopped at the light near John Brewer’s who was slumped behind the wheel and appeared to be asleep. The officer went to that area and saw the man.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Car Stolen Off Street, Handgun Found in River

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

April 14, 12:13 a.m.: Witnesses called police after seeing a silver and black SUV driving down Main Street with a flat tire and being driven erratically. The vehicle swerved a few times and almost lost control. Police located the vehicle on Prescott Street, and the driver was in the front seat slouched forward and asleep. It took several attempts for officers to wake the man in the car.