By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to Earl’s Kitchen at Assembly Row last week on reports of an assault involving a knife.

Upon arrival, an officer was flagged down by a witness, and the victim. They told the officer that a white male pulled a knife on the victim, who was then struck with a closed fist by a second male. The victim declined medical attention.

Police located a suspect matching the description provided by the victim and witness outside of Earl’s Kitchen and detained him for further investigation.

According to the victim’s statement, he parked his vehicle in front of Earl’s Kitchen and went into the restaurant with his companion – the witness – and watched the football game.

Upon leaving, the victim and witness entered the vehicle and began to back up in order to pull out of the parking spot. During this maneuver, they observed a group of three males attempting to gain their attention from inside the restaurant. These three males were seated at a table near the window, and began showing “gang signs,” according to the victim.

Parked behind their vehicle, illegally, was a motorcycle, and the victim wondered if they accidentally struck it. The victim and his companion exited the vehicle and confirmed they did not strike the motorcycle.

During this time, the suspect, later identified as Adam Ackerley, reportedly exited the restaurant with a knife in his left hand, held down by his side.

According to reports, Ackerley approached the victim and said said that he would kill him, at which time the witness took off running toward Tony C’s.

As the victim was pinned against his vehicle by Ackerley, a second suspect struck him in the face with a closed fist. The victim was able to enter his vehicle and flee onto Artisan Way.

Ackerley reportedly denied to police that this confrontation took place, and that he never exited the restaurant. Ackerley later reportedly stated he did go outside, but didn’t hurt anyone. 

Ackerley also initially stated he was alone in the restaurant and did not sit with anyone. He later changed his story and stated that he was sitting at a table with two males he did not know.

The waitress that was serving Ackerley did not wish to be identified, but reportedly said the three males were together, and one did order a steak with which a steak knife was delivered with the meal. The knife was cleared from the table after the confrontation after it was unknowingly used in an assault.

Ackerley was placed under arrest and taken to the Police station for booking on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.