By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the area of Dartmouth St and Evergreen Ave. last Sunday on reports of a man walking down street yelling.

Upon arrival, the officers observed a man matching the description given to dispatch walking down Thurston St. towards Evergreen. The man reportedly yelling profanities about getting into an argument with his girlfriend over politics.

The officers attempted several times to calm the man down, but to no avail. He reportedly became belligerent and combative.

According to reports, the officers believed that the man was under the influence of alcohol and potentially some other substance.

An ambulance was called to help evaluate the man’s condition, whose behavior escalated to threatening the the ambulance personnel, swinging his arms in a combative manner. He was making comments that led police to believe he would soon become assaultive, so he was restrained with handcuffs and shackled, then put into the ambulance, whereupon he was transported to Somerville Hospital.

After he was taken away, a witness told police that they had seen the man with another party get out of a car and that there was a dog locked in the car. The occupants of a Dartmouth St. residence gave police a description of the male operator of the vehicle, and police soon spotted a man who matched the description walking past the vehicle.

Police asked the man if the vehicle was his, as they were concerned for the wellbeing of the animal. The man, later identified as Michael Azuola, of Denver CO, reportedly stated that he was with the man earlier in the morning, but he “freaked out” so he left him.

Azuola reportedly said his keys were at his friend’s house and he would go get them to let the dog out. After retrieving his keys, he took the dog and walked up to and entered a Dartmouth St. residence.

According to reports, after Azuola left officers could see a set of bottle rockets and what appeared to be several gas canisters through the window of the vehicle, in plain view. We attempted to locate Azuola had already gone inside the house and the officers were dispatched to another call.

Later, police officers spotted Azuola standing by the car and stopped him for questioning.

Azuola was informed that the police would be confiscating the fireworks and requested that he retrieve the bottle rockets for them. Azuola opened the rear passenger side door and retrieved a pack of fire crackers, and also shifted some things around as if he was hiding something, according to reports.

The officers asked Azuola why he was transporting gas canisters around. He reportedly stated that he worked events and used the carbon dioxide for beer kegs. He was asked if he had any special permits to be transporting these cans and he reportedly said that he didn’t.

Azuola was informed that the police would need all the fireworks and that they would be searching his vehicle for more. At first he attempted to argue, according to police, but it was explained that they would be searching the vehicle nonetheless.

Azuola unlocked the car, whereupon the officers opened the rear driver’s side door and pulled a backpack out of the vehicle. A large gas canister was reportedly found in the back pack.

When moving the bag out of the way, an officer opened a zippered bag and found what appeared to be psilocybin mushrooms.

Azoula was placed in handcuffs, read his rights, and informed that he was under arrest. He indicated that he understood his rights and agreed to talk to police. The officers explained to Azoula what they had already found in the vehicle and asked if he would tell them if there would be anything else that they might find. He did not answer them.

After all the tanks were removed and placed to the side, the vehicle underwent a thorough search by police. It was found to be loaded up with various items including a camp stove, sleeping bags, attachments for the tanks, food items, and several bags and backpacks. The officers came across a black backpack, inside which a clear zip lock bag with what appeared to be a brick inside was found. Upon closer examination it was determined to be hashish. Other zip lock style bags were found inside the vehicle, which police believes to be consistent with packaging used for drug sales.

Azuola was charged with unlawful possession of fireworks and multiple charges of drug possession to distribute.