Somerville police report string of assaults, robberies, and arrests

SOMERVILLE — A series of violent crimes and confrontations has kept the Somerville Police Department busy with reports of armed robbery, assault, and arrests in recent days.

On July 30, at around 5:23 p.m., police received a report of an armed robbery involving a juvenile who was allegedly lured into a trap through SnapChat.

After arranging to sell a pair of sneakers, the victim and a friend were confronted by two males who brandished firearms, hijacked their vehicle, and forced them to withdraw money from banks in Cambridge and Medford.

The suspects later abandoned the vehicle in Somerville, stealing the victims’ cell phones, sneakers, and a gold chain.

On the evening of July 31, at about 8:11 p.m., another report came in.

A victim was assaulted on July 29 while walking in Assembly Row, suffering a concussion and injuries to his nose after being attacked by two young males.

Later that same night, at approximately 8:29 p.m., police responded to a weapons call at a business in Twin City Plaza, where a suspect, caught shoplifting, pushed an employee and brandished a knife when confronted.

The suspect was apprehended and arrested.

August 4 saw further violence when at 2:31 p.m., officers were dispatched to Glen Street for a reported fight.

A victim claimed to have been punched by a male party upon exiting his vehicle at home.

Police identified the assailant.

The following day, August 5, at around 8:50 a.m., a fight at 1366 Broadway resulted in an arrest after a victim was pepper-sprayed by a co-worker during an altercation.

Earlier, on August 2, at about 2:17 p.m., police responded to another weapons-related call on Dartmouth Street.

Witnesses reported a fight during which one individual struck another with an airsoft gun.

The suspect was located and arrested.

In addition to these incidents, Somerville Police reported a spate of other crimes, including three bike thefts, three acts of vandalism, three motor vehicle vandalisms, three car break-ins, two package thefts, and one motor vehicle theft.