Newton Police

June 16 At 3:10 p.m., a Newton volunteer fireman reported the theft of his motorcycle helmet, glasses and keys from atop his motorcycle parked at the #2 Firehouse on Lawnwood Avenue. The fireman had responded to an emergency fire call and had parked the motorcycle in the firehouse parking lot before climbing into a fire truck. Upon his return, he observed his property was missing. The helmet is described as a black half-helmet with the word, “Boulevard,” across the front to match the motorcycle. The property is valued at $150 in addition to the expense of re-keying the motorcycle. Police ask anyone with information to contact them at 973-383-2525. June 19 At 5 a.m. on Sunday, June 18, Naunitbha Patel, owner of the Newton News and Tobacco Store, arrived at his business to find that unknown actor(s) had written a bias remark in marker ink on the front entrance door. At the time, no suspects were known. Early Monday morning, June 19, Halsted Street School faculty observed graffiti on the front door of the school similar to that discovered on the tobacco shop. The graffiti was written in marker and consisted of statements and remarks containing profanity and explicit sexual content. A subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Shawn B. Geffken, 19, of Andover; Katherine Fansler, 18, of Newton; and a 13-year-old female from Newton. Geffken and Fansler were charged with one count each of criminal mischief. Geffken was also charged with fourth-degree bias intimidation for the remark written on the front door of the tobacco store. The investigation was aided by use of video surveillance equipment on school property. All three arrested individuals were processed and released pending court appearances.