By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the Temple and Derby St. area on reports of a man wearing a blue mask, yellow hooded sweatshirt and backpack, riding a blue bicycle and circling the area, suspiciously checking out houses.

Shortly thereafter, the officers located a man matching that description in the area of 49 Fellsway West (Foss Park), just a street over from where the reporting party observed the suspicious individual.

The officers approached the man and asked if they could speak with him. The man reportedly complied and explained to that he was coming from the Walgreens on Broadway, where he purchased a phone charger and was now on his way home.

The officers explained to the man that the reason they wanted to speak with him was because it was reported that someone matching his description was seen in the area suspiciously checking out houses.

The officers asked the man if he could identify himself, at which time he provided them with the name of Robert Richards, along with his date of birth.

After querying that information, the officers discovered that Richards had a default warrant out of Boston District Court, and he was placed in handcuffs.

The officers located several packages inside of Richards’ backpack belonging to someone at a Mystic Ave location. They also found another three packages with a bar code, as well as what appeared to be Mandarin writing on the packages.

While the officers were looking at the packages, Richards reportedly stated that he had taken them from the front of the apartment building at the Mystic Ave. address.

Richards was ultimately transported to the Somerville Police headquarters and booked in the usual manner on charges of receiving stolen property under $1200 and on multiple warrant charges of assault and battery on a person over 60 or disabled.

Police delivered the packages back to the Mystic Ave. location.