By Jim Clark

Police responded to a report of an assault with a handgun last Friday afternoon at a Highland Ave. location.

The reporting party told police that while he was in a beauty shop his wife called and told him that a man, later identified as Benjamin Francois, 46, of Medford, was asking for a sign.

As the reporting party left the beauty shop and headed for his barbershop nearby, he reportedly met up with Francois, who said to him, “I want my sign.”

The reporting party told police that he replied to Francois, “Pay me $200 and I’ll give you the sign. It’s my name, my sign. I paid for the sign.”

The reporting party further told police that Francois grabbed him by the shirt and punched him, then pushed him away and said, “I’ll kill you. I’m going to get my gun,” according to the reporting party’s account.

Francois then allegedly began searching his vehicle, apparently looking for a gun.

The reporting party then called 911 and Francois drove away from the scene, police said.

When asked if he had actually seen a gun, the reporting party told police that he had not, but that he believed Francois did have a gun and his and his wife’s lives were in danger.

A search of the immediate area yielded no results, but a Medford address for Francois was eventually obtained and Medford police were asked to look for the suspect and arrest him if found, according to reports.

Francois was found at the residence in Medford and he was placed into custody and transported to Somerville for booking on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.