By Jim Clark

While investigating a cab fare evasion incident near the corner of Central and Highland Streets last Friday night, Somerville police officers noticed yelling coming from a vehicle behind them.

Police said that the vehicle was ordered to pull over and the driver, a young woman, was asked if she was OK. The woman reportedly shook her head “no” and she was then asked to step out of the vehicle to discuss the nature of the situation.

She reportedly told police that the vehicle’s passenger, Austin Haley, 18, was drunk and upset over an argument that they had earlier in the evening. She stated that he had punched the passenger side window and also severely cracked the front windshield by hitting it with his bag, police said.

Police report that Haley was visibly upset and appeared to be intoxicated. According to the officers, he was asked to step out of the vehicle and was then handcuffed and placed on the ground, where he was then advised that he was to be charged with malicious destruction of property. He reportedly began yelling and swearing at police, so he was further advised to calm down or he would face additional charges of disorderly conduct.

While being escorted to the prisoner transport vehicle, Haley reportedly told officers, “Don’t forget my bag. I got beers in there.” The bag was found to contain four cans of beer, one of which had been open with about half of the contents emptied.

Haley was taken in and charged with being a person under 21 in possession of alcohol, alcohol in motor vehicle/open container, disorderly conduct, and destruction of property over $250.