» Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations

New Police Officers Sworn In

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:24:46 +0000

The Watertown Police Department is pleased to announce the swearing-in of two new officers into its ranks. They are Officers David Cobe and Officer Feras Irqsusi. Officers Cobe and Irqsusi attended the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Basic Police Officers Training Academy sponsored by the Lowell Police Academy. The new officers will participate in an extensive field-training program before receiving their final assignments with the Patrol Division. The swearing-in ceremony took place on December 21, 2011 in the community room of the Police Station.

Officer Cobe is a 2001 graduate of Watertown High School. Officer Irqsusi is a 2003 graduate of Watertown High School and holds a Bachelors degree from UMass-Boston.

FBI Press Release

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:24:30 +0000

“We can confirm that search warrants have been executed in several locations in the Northeast in connection with the investigation into the attempted Time Square bombing. A number of individuals encountered during the searches were taken into federal custody for alleged immigration violations. At this time we can provide no further details as the investigation is ongoing. These searches are the product of evidence that has been gathered in the investigation subsequent to the attempted Times Square bombing and do not relate to any known immediate threat to the public or active plot against the United States.”‬‪

Warren Bamford Special Agent in Charge FBI – Boston
617-223-6101

Suspicious Incident-Suspect Sketch

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:21:14 +0000

Suspicious Incident

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:16:01 +0000

On Tuesday evening at approximately five pm, Watertown Police responded to Hunt St in Watertown on a report of a suspicious male in a car attempting to lure young children that were playing in the yard. Officers discovered that a white male operating an older model Honda Civic or Accord, pulled up in front of a residence and opened the car door and began a conversation with the children, swinging a key ring on a string asking them if they had lost a necklace. The children ran into the house screaming and a parent then exited the house and confronted the operator. The operator stated to the parent that he was just trying to see if anyone lost a necklace. The male then held up a silver ring attached to a black shoe lace. The parent informed him that no one lost a ring and the male then closed his car door and drove off westbound on Hunt St and turned right onto Galen St.

The male is described as a white male, in his 60’s, wearing a long sleeve white shirt, khaki pants, skinny build, red complexion, blue eyes, possibly wearing glasses, gray hair combed to the side and yellowish colored teeth.

The vehicle was described as an older model gray Honda Civic or accord with an emblem/magnet of flag insignia on the rear trunk of the vehicle by the key hole.

The ring was described as a silver key ring that had the word “Diesel” inscribed on it attached to a black shoe lace.

Anyone having any information on this incident is asked to contact the Watertown Police Department at # 617-972-6500.

Prepared by Lt. Michael Lawn
Watertown Police Department

Rockland Trust Bank Robbery

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:03:18 +0000

On Thursday October 8, 2009, at 1519 hours, the Rockland Trust Bank at 430 Main St. was robbed. The suspect entered the bank, approached the teller, displayed a note in one hand demanding money and displayed a gun in his right hand at the same time. The suspect fled out the rear entrance of the bank and was observed getting into a small black motor vehicle with a missing hub cap. The vehicle traveled east bound on Main St and was last seen traveling westbound on Pleasant St towards Waltham.

A Waltham Police detective was able to identify the suspect from surveillance photos. A subsequent investigation by the Watertown Police, Waltham Police and FBI Bank Robbery Task Force resulted in a warrant being obtained in Waltham District Court on Friday October 9, 2009, for David M. Webster of 60 Lowell St. Apt # B Waltham, charging him with Armed Robbery.

At approximately 1230 hours on 10/9/09, the above agencies along with the State Police Stop Unit arrested Webster at his residence in Waltham on the Armed Robbery charge. Webster will be arraigned in Waltham District Court late this afternoon.

Watertown High School Incident

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:38:49 +0000

On Tuesday June 2, 2009, at 1108 hours, police responded to 990 Belmont St. on a report of a possible attempted abduction. The caller was a third party caller. The initial call was that a male in the area of the Watertown High School attempted to coerce a female student into his vehicle.
Because of the nature of the original report the police and school department conducted a complete and thorough investigation into this incident. The Watertown Police Department has concluded its investigation and found that the initial report of an attempted abduction was reported incorrectly. It was found that at no time was any student at risk of danger and no criminal activity had occurred.

Pedestrian Motor Vehicle Accident

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:36:22 +0000

On January 8, 2009, at 2119 hours, Watertown Police and Fire Departments responded to Mt Auburn St and Bates Rd on a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. The pedestrian was crossing Mt Auburn St in dark clothing and was struck by a 2001 Ford Taurus traveling westbound on Mt Auburn St. The Ford Taurus was operated by a 26 year old male Bedford resident. The pedestrian, who is a 35 year old male from Boston, was transported to the Beth Israel Hospital with head injuries. The pedestrian was listed in critical condition. Watertown Police and the State Police Accident reconstruction Team are currently investigating this accident.

Arrest Made in Recent Car Breaks

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:58:37 +0000

Watertown Police arrested a 19 year old Watertown resident for the recent car breaks over the past week. Detectives are still working on the case. Police still remind residents to lock their car doors and do not keep anything of value inside of their vehicles.

Bank Robbery Arrest

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:10:54 +0000

On Saturday April 26, 2008 police made two arrests in connection with the bank robbery at Watertown Savings Bank, 739 Main Street, on Friday April 25th. Watertown Police Detectives reviewed the surveillance photos and were able to identify the suspect as former Watertown resident Christopher Grace. Police discovered that Grace had an outstanding warrant for threats out of Lowell District Court.

With the assistance of Belmont Police, Cambridge Police, Somerville Police and members of the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force, Grace and the vehicle he was a passenger in was stopped inside the Cambridge Galleria Mall parking garage. Grace was placed under arrest for the warrant. The vehicle was operated by Taralee Garvin. Located on the floor of the vehicle was a .38 caliber handgun. Grace and Garvin were both charged by Cambridge Police for carrying a firearm without a license and leaving a firearm in a vehicle.

Detectives interviewed the suspects who confessed to the Watertown Savings Bank robbery as well as other bank robberies in Belmont, Medford and Dallas Texas. Grace and Garvin will be charged with unarmed robbery for the Watertown Savings Bank robbery. Garvin drove Grace to and from this bank robbery.

Suspect #1: Christopher Grace, 31 Patterson Road Shirley, MA, 35 years old.
Suspect #2: Taralee Garvin, 10 Cambridge Street Belmont, MA, 22 years old.

Bank Robery Arrest Made

Detective Lt. Michael Lawn, Media Relations — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:01:55 +0000

On Saturday 1/5/08, Watertown Police arrested Paul Cote, a former resident of watertown was arrested for the the bank robbery at Belmont Savings Bank.