On the morning of Monday, May 26, 2025, I was assigned to marked unit East-2. At approximately 10:23 AM, Somerville Police Dispatch reported a call for service at 400 Somerville Avenue (Market Basket) regarding a disturbance between a male and a female customer. The male party reportedly threw a bottle of juice at the female party. Officer Patrick Canty (East-3) responded as backup.

Upon arrival, Officer Canty was met by the victim, later identified as Ms. XXXX. Officer Canty notified me via portable radio that the male suspect had fled the scene in an older black Dodge Durango bearing Massachusetts registration XXXX. The male party was later identified as Mr. Arnold WILLIAMS. Officer Canty stated that WILLIAMS had been seen heading in the direction of Dane Street. I canvassed the surrounding area but was unable to locate him.

I returned to Market Basket to obtain a statement from Ms. XXXX. She stated that the incident began as a verbal dispute between herself and Mr. WILLIAMS regarding who would proceed first through the produce section. According to XXXX, after she moved ahead of WILLIAMS into the ice cream aisle, he followed her, shouting, "Your mother, your mother." XXXX admitted to responding by giving WILLIAMS the middle finger.

She stated that WILLIAMS then became irate, deliberately ramming her with his shopping carriage. XXXX stated she initially attempted to block the carriage with her leg but was unsuccessful in preventing it from striking her.

In response, she said she grabbed a bottle of Welch's "Mango Twist" juice from WILLIAMS' carriage and threw it on top of the produce, saying "What the hell is your problem?" At that point, WILLIAMS reportedly grabbed the same juice bottle and struck XXXX on the left side of her head by throwing it at her. He then picked up a Chayote Squash and threw it at her, also striking her in the head.

Following the assault, both parties separated.

Officer Canty and I reviewed Market Basket's surveillance footage, which visually corroborated Ms. XXXX account of events, though no audio was available. Store management was asked to preserve the video for investigative purposes.

Dispatch conducted a registration query on the suspect vehicle, which returned an address for WILLIAMS in Cambridge, MA. I requested that Cambridge Police respond to that address to attempt an arrest for two counts of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, (MGL 265/15A).

Cambridge Police were able to make contact with WILLIAMS. Officer Canty, Sgt. Van Nostrand, and I proceeded to the residence to obtain WILLIAMS' account of the incident.

WILLIAMS stated that XXXX initially bumped him, to which he responded by allowing her to go ahead, stating he "had nothing better to do today." He alleged that XXXX then called him a racial slur ("Spic"), gave him the middle finger, and proceeded ahead of him. According to WILLIAMS, they exchanged verbal insults before XXXX allegedly shoved his carriage. He insisted that she should be the one arrested.

Based on the totality of the circumstances and corroborated video evidence, Mr. Arnold WILLIAMS was placed under arrest without incident for two counts of Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (MGL 265/15A).

Transport unit 200, operated by Officer Thompson, was requested to the scene to transport WILLIAMS to Somerville Police Headquarters for booking. Booking was completed by Lt. Capasso in the usual manner.

Respectfully,

Officer Alex Lorenti #322