On October 9th, 2018, I, Officer James Torres, was in full-uniform, while assigned to marked unit East 2, during the day shift. At approximately 8:19 AM, Officers were dispatched to the area of 22x Somerville Avenue, for a report of a man who hit a woman in the head with a baseball bat.

Upon my arrival, I observed a woman down on the ground, at the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Linden Street, being treated by the Somerville fire department.  A block away, down Somerville Avenue, at the intersection of Allen Street and Somerville Avenue, I observed a male in handcuffs, being detained by officers who were on scene.

I first spoke to a witness who informed me that she was walking down Somerville Avenue, towards Union Square, when she observed a female crossing the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Linden Street and then witnessed a male headed in the female’s direction from Linden Street with a baseball bat in his hand.  The witness then saw the male come up from behind and with a two handed grip, strike the female in the back of the head with the baseball bat.  The female then fell to the ground and the male took off down Somerville Avenue towards Union Square with the baseball bat still in his hand.  The witness then went to the aid of the injured female.  The witness was identified as XXXX.  XXXX filled out a voluntary statement form on what she observed and this will be placed into evidence.

A male party shortly thereafter, approached me and stated that he had witnessed what had happened and that he is the one that apprehended the suspect.  This second witness, who was identified as XXXX, stated that he was in the area working, when he saw a male walk up to a female and strike her in the back of the head with a baseball bat and take off down Somerville Avenue towards Union Square.  XXXX then ran after the suspect and caught up to him at the next block over, at the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Allen Street.  The suspect then began to swing the bat at XXXX, approximately 3 or 4 times, resulting in XXXX being struck in his right hand by the bat.  XXXX was then able to take the baseball bat from the suspect and with the help of a coworker, XXXX and his coworker, subsequently identified as XXXX, were able to hold the suspect down, until officers arrived.  I also spoke to XXXX and he corroborated XXXX’s account of what happened as he witnessed and took part in the apprehension of the suspect.

I then made my way to the suspect who was still located at the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Allen Street where he was in handcuffs and being detained by officers.  The suspect was identified as Mr. Clifton Moore.  Officer Eddie Soares advised me that he had already read the suspect his Miranda Warning.  I asked the suspect what had happened and he stated to me that there were people running after him and that he just fell to the ground.  I asked the suspect, Mr. Moore, if the backpack that was to the right of him, on the ground, belonged to him and he stated that it did.  I then asked Mr. Moore if the baseball bat that was also to the right of him, against a wall, belonged to him and he stated that it did not.  I asked Mr. Moore if he had hit the female with the baseball bat and Mr. Moore stated that he did not want to answer any more questions.  It was at this time that Mr. Moore was placed under arrest and a search incident to arrest was conducted.  A pocket knife was recovered from Mr. Moore’s person.  Mr. Moore was escorted by officers across the street to the Somerville Police headquarters where he was booked in the usual manner by Lieutenant William Rymill.  The baseball bat and knife have been placed into evidence.

I then went to Massachusetts General Hospital where the victim was taken.  The victim was identified as XXXX.  XXXX who was conscience and alert stated to me that she was walking down Somerville Avenue when she saw a male walking towards her on Linden Street.  XXXX then stated that the male, Mr. Moore, just walked up to her and hit her in the head with the baseball bat.  XXXX then fell to the ground.  XXXX stated that she did see Mr. Moore walk towards her and that she did not recognize nor does she know who Mr. Moore is.  XXXX suffered a 2 inch laceration to the back of her head where she will be needing stiches.

Detective Michael Faria, informed me that he had contacted loss prevention over at the Target store located at 180 Somerville Avenue, which is in close proximity to where the assault took place.  Detective Faria informed that there is video footage of Mr. Moore entering the target store shortly prior to the assault taking place, and purchasing a baseball bat and a pocket knife.  This video footage will be placed into evidence.

Respectfully submitted,

Officer James Torres

Badge #329