Somerville Crime Log: Sticks, Break‑ins, and a Vomit‑Filled Incident

Somerville police logged a handful of unsettling incidents between Tuesday, Aug. 18 and Sunday, Aug. 23 – a blend of everyday mishaps and oddball crimes that left neighbors shaking their heads.

On Tuesday evening at 6:19 p.m., officers responded to a bike accident on Franklin Street. A father and his young daughter were crossing when a moped clipped the bike. After the crash, a man the father knew suddenly punched him in the nose – a bewildering act of violence that police quickly identified.

Friday started early. At 7:40 a.m., detectives were called to a construction site on Alpine Street after someone broke in overnight and made off with several tools. The same morning, at 9:06 a.m., an altercation erupted in Davis Square: one man verbally harassed another before hurling a steaming cup of coffee at his face.

Later that night, at 10:21 p.m., a passerby reported being struck on the head with a stick near the corner of Elm and Chester Streets. Police were able to name the assailant shortly after.

Early Saturday, at 3:42 a.m., a separate Davis Square victim recounted being grabbed and shoved into a pole by an unknown attacker – another reminder that the city’s streets can feel surprisingly hostile after dark.

Sunday brought two more calls. At 3:42 p.m., officers talked to a homeless woman on South Street who said a man punched her while she was moving her belongings. The suspect was located and arrested.

Just before nightfall, at 9:01 p.m., police responded to a bizarre break‑in on Tufts Street. A resident opened his door to find a stranger had entered his apartment, strutted straight to the couch and vomited all over it. The intruder didn’t stay long; he was identified and taken into custody.

These episodes, odd as they may seem, underscore the range of challenges Somerville police face daily – from ordinary assaults to the truly bizarre. Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant, report suspicious activity, and look out for one another.