On Thursday, June 23, 2016, at 12:30 P.M., I received a telephone call from XXXXX, stating he observed a male conceal merchandise at TJ Maxx, and then exit the store without paying for the merchandise.

 

I contacted TJ Maxx Loss Prevention Agent, YYYYY, who confirmed that she observed a male conceal merchandise and exit the store. YYYYY described the shoplifter as a Hispanic male, wearing a white shirt, a black hat and carrying a red backpack, walking east on Grand Union Blvd.

 

I responded along with Officer Sousa, to the area of Grand Union Blvd., and Revolution Drive, where we located a male matching the description. I recognized the man from a previous incident as Luis Acosta. I informed Mr. Acosta that he was under arrest and he immediately took off running down Grand Union Blvd., and turned right onto Revolution Drive.

 

I pursued Mr. Acosta on foot on Revolution Drive. He entered Home Depot an continued running inside the store. Mr. Acosta exited the store from a different door, and continued to run in the parking lot towards Mystic Ave. Captain Cotter was nearby and chased after Mr. Acosta, and apprehended him in the parking lot.

 

Mr. Acosta began to resist by pulling away from Captain Cotter, and refused to put his hands behind his back. I asked Mr. Acosta to stop resisting, and he refused to comply. I drew my department issued OC spray, and delivered a one second burst to the forehead area of Mr. Acosta, and placed him in handcuffs.

 

I searched Mr. Acosta’s backpack and recovered a Bluetooth speaker with a TJ Maxx price tag (value $24.99.) I asked Officer Sousa to check the price tags on two shirts I recovered from Acosta’s backpack. Mr. Acosta stated “The shirts are mine. I only took the speakers.”

 

While waiting for the prisoner transport, Acosta spit on Officer Schneider, and continued to pull away from me. Officer Van Nostrand conducted a pat frisk of Mr. Acosta and recovered a folding knife from his pant pocket. Mr. Acosta was transported to the Somerville Police Headquarters via unit 200, operated by Officer Pavao.

 

The knife was tagged and placed into evidence. Mr. Acosta was charged with shoplifting by concealing, resisting arrest, VCO possession of dangerous weapons, and assault and battery on Police Officer.

 

 

Respectfully submitted, 

 

 

 

Officer Samir Messaoudi #312

Somerville Police Dept.