Police/Fire

Watertown Police Join Other Departments to Patrol Along Charles River

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Police from Watertown, Waltham, Newton and the State Police will patrol the Charles River this summer. Pictured L to R, Capt. Dowling (Newton PD), Capt. Rodley (Waltham PD), Lt. Dear (MSP
Brighton), Chief Lawn, Capt. Dupuis

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

The Massachusetts State Police, Waltham Police Department, Watertown Police Department, and Newton Police Department, along with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, are partnering in a summer initiative to enhance safety along the Riverwalk and other parkland along the Charles River Upper Basin. Troopers and Officers this weekend will launch Project Safe Summer, a joint patrol initiative that recognizes the four police agencies’ shared responsibility to enhance public safety along this serene area popular with walkers, runners, cyclists, and nature lovers. Teams consisting of members from each of the four departments will patrol the Upper Basin parklands and work collaboratively to address quality-of-life issues and other public concerns. The joint teams will patrol the area at various times, supplementing existing regular patrols.

Around Town

Watertown Hosting Gun Buyback Event on June 22

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An AR-15 assault rifle, in front, was among the weapons brought to Watertown gun buyback on Saturday. The Watertown Police provided the following information:

The Eastern Middlesex County Gun Buy-Back will be held in Watertown on Saturday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The event will be at First Parish Church (35 Church St.)

Make our communities even safer by disposing of any unwanted guns! No ID’s will be requested, no questions asked. You’ll receive a gift card for each firearm you turn in and help reduce the risk of suicide, accidental discharge, and domestic violence.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Threatens Police, 3 Vehicles Vandalized, Bicycles Stolen

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

June 3, 7:04 p.m.: An officer a man on a motorcycle heading north on Spring Street following very close to the vehicle in front of it. Then the motorcycle illegally passed the vehicle. Police stopped the motorcycle at Spring and Palfrey streets. After being stopped, the rider immediately became agitated, and began yelling and threw his hands in the air.

FBI

Federal Prostitution Sting Nets Three in Watertown

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Three people face charges related to prostitution after being caught in a sting run by the FBI with the help of the Watertown Police. On the afternoon of June 6, undercover law enforcement had suspected prostitutes come to a hotel in Watertown, and arrested those involved, including the “pimps.” Others were not arrested but were given services to help get out of prostitution. Police arrested a 24-year-old woman, later identified as Keisha Meneide of Trenton, N.J., on charges of sexual conduct for a fee, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. A Rhode Island couple was also arrested in association with Meneide.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest 16-Year Old for School Threat Made on Social Media

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Watertown Police arrested a 16-year-old Watertown boy for allegedly making threats toward a school on Friday, May 31 after the teen sent a Snapchat message that was received by students at Watertown High School and Watertown Middle School. Watertown Police received word of the threat from Watertown Public School officials Friday morning, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The message was sent via the Snapchat social media app, and contained a list of emojis, O’Connor said. “From what police could tell, the Snapchat message went to over 100 students at Watertown Middle School and Watertown High School,” O’Connor said. “It contained emojis of a picture of a school, a bomb, an explosion, a gun and an emoji of someone running.”

Around Town

Retiring Police Officer Had a Big Presence in the Community & in the Police Department

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Officer Tony Physic on a visit to the Brigham House. Harold “Tony” Physic experienced a lot of lasts as a Watertown Police Officer recently: his last time judging the Dancing with the Stars earlier this month, the last time marching in the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, and on Wednesday his last roll call. After 34 years, Physic is retiring from the Watertown Police Department, having left his mark on his fellow police officers and the community that he served and protected. While he has patrolled many parts of town, for the last 15 years Physic was assigned to the dayshift patrol of the East End of town. “I’ve seen the community change and the people change,” Physic said, noting that the area used to be more of a family oriented neighborhood.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Seek Man Who Stabbed Friend at Cookout

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David Holladay is wanted by Watertown Police for allegedly stabbing another man at a cookout on May 25. Watertown Police issued a warrant for a man who allegedly stabbed another man while at a cookout on May 25. The suspect, identified as 59-year-old David Holladay, was invited to the home of a 59-year-old longtime acquaintance on the evening of May 25. The two got into an argument over one of their family issues, and Halladay allegedly stabbed the other man in the left thigh with a knife, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The incident occurred on Elm Street near the corner of Munroe Avenue, and was witnessed by others in the area.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police, Middlesex Sheriff Hosting Gun Buyback Event

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Members of the Watertown Police, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and the State Police pose with the 50 weapons collected in the gun buyback in 2016. The Watertown Police Department provided the following information:

The Arlington, Cambridge, Newton and Watertown Police Departments, in conjunction with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Belmont Police Department and local community and faith-based organizations will partner to host the “Safer Homes, Safer Communities” regional gun buyback initiative over four Saturdays next month (June 8-29), officials announced today. In 2016, a similar regional initiative – in which Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge and Watertown also participated – resulted in 150 unwanted firearms being turned in for destruction. “We are glad to once again be assisting our law enforcement and community partners in this effort,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “Providing residents the opportunity to safely, securely dispose of unwanted firearms makes our homes and our communities safer, by reducing the chance of accidental discharge, self-harm and theft.”

“The Watertown Police Department is happy to support the gun buyback program,” said Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn.