By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to the Davis Square area last week in response to a reported robbery and assault.

Calls were made to 911 describing the alleged robbery that also involved a man punching another man in the face.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with witnesses who provided details of the incident as well as a description of the suspect.

Witnesses reportedly told police that the suspect hit another male and pull away a bag from a woman that the man was with.

The incident reportedly took place in the vicinity of the Somerville Theatre.

According to witness reports, the suspect fled down Dover St. towards Cambridge, carrying the woman’s bag.

A number of witnesses reportedly told police that they had spotted the suspect fleeing through backyards and down side streets.

The description was broadcast to other units operating in the area and a man fitting the description provided by witnesses was located on Grove St. and stopped by police for questioning.

Tha man, identified as Stephen Picard, 45, of Lynn, was found carrying a red backpack, according to reports.

Police said that Picard appeared to be nervous and made a number of self-incriminating statements, such as, “I’m a career criminal” and “If I get locked up, I’ll be right back out here doing what I do.”

Police conducted a “show up” identification procedure with the reporting party, and Picard was subsequently ID’ed as the perpetrator of the incident.

The female victim of the robbery reportedly told police that Picard was her boyfriend and that they had an argument earlier at Porter Square, where he allegedly slashed her bag open with a knife, at which time she left there to meet a friend at Davis Square.

The woman said that Picard confronted her at Davis Square and took her bag, after striking the man the she was with, police said.

The robbery victim identified a number of items found in Picard’s backpack as belonging to her.

Picard was placed under arrest and charged with armed robbery and assault and battery.