Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Say Goodbye to a Hero & a Good Guy

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Sgt. John MacLellan greets one of the many people who came out to say goodbye to him at his retirement ceremony on Tuesday. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn summarized Sgt. John MacLellan’s career saying “The world would be a better place if there were John MacLellans in it.” Tuesday afternoon, one of the men involved in the shootout with and capture of the Boston Marathon Bombers got a hero’s farewell at the Watertown Police Station.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Career Highlight for One of the Heroes of the Watertown Shootout: Helping Others

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As Watertown Sgt. John MacLellan approaches retirement, he said the best part of being a police officer is helping others. Here he looks for toys with a young boy during the Shop With a Cop event at Target in 2015. When asked about the highlights of his career with the Watertown Police Department, Sgt. John MacLellan did not point to the night that he tangled with Boston Marathon Bombers, but rather being able to help people.

Police/Fire

Police Seek Help Stopping Scam Aimed at Elderly Residents

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The Watertown Police Department warns that a scam targeting older residents has been reported recently, and asks residents to alert family, friends and neighbors. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

Elderly Scam Advisory

Important Information!!! REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE

There is currently a group of individuals targeting senior citizens by way of a telephone scam in our community as well as several Metro-Boston cities and towns. An unidentified person will telephone an unsuspecting elder and say that the elder’s grandchild is currently in jail due to some prior event. The unknown suspect will say that they are a lawyer representing the“grandchild” and request the elder to obtain an amount of money to bail the “grandchild” out of jail.

Police/Fire

Watertown Fire Department Douses Fire on Porch Before it Spread

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A fire that started on the porch of an East Watertown home was extinguished before it could do more damage to the two-family home. On May 11 at about 3:25 p.m. Watertown Fire and Police were called to an Elton Avenue home when a fire was spotted on a porch. “The residents were alerted by a neighboring witness who was sitting on his front porch and noticed the fire and ran over to let the residents know,” said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Fire and police were called, and hen they arrived, all the residents were safely out of their home. The Watertown Fire Department was able to bring the fire under control.

Arrest

Man Arrested After Leading Police on Chase While Riding a Scooter

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Police placed a Waltham man under arrest after he led them on a chase in Watertown on his scooter. On May 7, at 2:27 p.m., an officer monitoring traffic at the corner of Main and Cross streets saw a Vespa-style scooter going approximately 50 mph, on the wrong side of the road while heading east, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The operator, later identified as Neil Ozzy Frajul, 26, of Waltham, was not wearing a helmet, nor was he wearing eye protection. At that point the officer tried to stop the scooter, O’Connor said. “The scooter failed to stop and the rider ended up running the red lights in Watertown Square,” O’Connor said.

Arrest

Police Log: Car Stolen, Men Get in Fight Over COVID-19 Concerns

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

April 16, 12:46 a.m.: A caller reported seeing a vehicle being driven erratically on the 200 block of Arsenal Street at about 12:27 a.m. Police responded and located a vehicle matching the caller’s description a few minutes later on the 500 block of Main Street, but when they attempted to pull him over, the driver sped away. He was located a short time later pulled over on Grove Street in Waltham. The driver admitted to consuming alcohol before driving, and he showed signs of intoxication, including emitting a strong odor of alcohol. Police discovered he had a license suspended for an OUI and already had two prior OUI charges.

100th Birthday

See How Watertown Celebrated a Resident’s 100th Birthday During COVID-19

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Watertown turned out in a big way to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of its veterans on Friday afternoon. A call went out from the family of Joseph Markarian online, and the town responded. The U.S. Army veteran was treated to his own parade complete with police and fire vehicles with their sires blaring and a band (well at least one musician — Watertown’s famous traveling tuba player). The celebration was covered by WBUR reporter, and Watertown resident Bruce Gellerman. See and hear his report here.

Police/Fire

Man Who Stole Car from Watertown Caught in Boston

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A Newton man wanted for stealing a car, after breaking into a Watertown home, was caught the next day by Boston Police. Watertown police arrested 36-year-old Jonathan L. Bradley Jr., of Newton, on multiple charges, including breaking into a home and stealing a 2012 Subaru Impreza. On April 13, an Elton Avenue resident heard sounds on the upper floor of a two-family home between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. and later realized it was someone breaking into the home, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “Thinking it was someone up early, the resident didn’t think anything of it,” O’Connor said. “When person got up they saw that a pocket book had been gone through, and their vehicle was missing from in front of the house.”