By Jim Clark

Last Friday, while traveling on Mystic Ave., a Somerville Police officer queried the license plate of a vehicle directly in front of him, resulting in a report that the plates were canceled and attached to the wrong motor vehicle.

The officer contacted Somerville Police control and asked for confirmation on the license plate status, then activated his lights and sirens.

The vehicle was stopped near the intersection of Mystic Ave. and McGrath Hwy., then drove towards the side entrance of the Stop & Shop store.

A passenger in the vehicle reportedly opened the door while the vehicle was still in motion, and once the vehicle stopped, exited the vehicle with a black backpack and took off running towards Blakeley Ave.

The officer approached the vehicle and requested the license and registration from the operator, Shami Grant, of Charlestown, and informed him of the reason for the stop.

Grant handed the officer the vehicle’s title and a bill of sale and reportedly stated that he did not have a valid license.

The officer asked Grant to step out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest for unlicensed operation and failure to stop for police.

The officer grabbed Grant’s left hand and cuffed him. When he grabbed Grant’s right hand, he reportedly began to question why he was being arrested and pulled his arm away. The officer advised Grant not to resist, and placed him in handcuffs without further incident.

The officer instructed Grant to sit on the sidewalk while waiting for backup. He then started to complain about the handcuffs being too tight and said to the officer, “Why are you doing this to me? Take these cuffs off and see what happens.”

Additionally, Grant repeatedly threatened the officer until the prisoner transport vehicle arrived, according to reports.

Grant was transported to the Somerville Police Headquarters and booked on charges of failure to stop for police, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unregistered motor vehicle, attaching wrong motor vehicle plates, and uninsured motor vehicle.