By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Medford St. residence last week on reports of a breaking and entering in progress. Responding officers were told that an intruder was “kicking” a door.

Upon arrival, officers witnessed two men, one later identified as Kevin McKenzie, on the front steps of the Medford St. house.

The other male was on a bike and would later leave. The officers were not able to identify him and McKenzie only supplied a partial name and told police he thinks he is from Everett or Malden.

Arriving officers asked nearby witnesses what was going on and they directed them towards the Medford St. location. They told police there was something happening over there but they were not involved.

Officers entered the home and met with the victim, who told them that at around midnight his front door, which was unlocked at the time, opened and two men entered his unit. Both were holding one knife each.

McKenzie, who was one of the two men, was wearing a silver mask but was identified by the victim, who knows him because his is friends with the victim’s former roommate.

The victim told the men to leave but they refused. The victim then forced the two men out of his unit and into a common hall. The victim then shut and locked his door. At this time the victim called 911 as McKenzie and the other unknown suspect began “banging” and “kicking” the victim’s door.

This forced the door back open and broke the door frame. The suspects then fled. The victim identified McKenzie to the officers by his first name, Kevin.

The officers then went up to the third floor of the building, which they knew was McKenzie’s unit from a prior interaction with him.

McKenzie came out to the third-floor landing and the officers asked about what happened earlier. He reportedly told them he and his friend were invited over by the victim. He said the victim has a pair of headphones which belong to him. He also said this invitation was via text message, but McKenzie did not have the phone he allegedly used.

An officer held up the silver mask that the victim claimed McKenzie was wearing during the incident and asked him if it was his and he said that he “found it.”

McKenzie then told police about some personal problems he was having. The officers noticed that he smelled of mouth wash, and was actively drinking something. His speech seemed slow and his manner flat. Yet he was alert and able to understand questions.

McKenzie reportedly told the officers that he just got out of “rehab” within the past 24 to 48 hours. They asked him if he wanted an ambulance, which he refused.

During a second conversation with McKenzie, police told him that there is a camera that would have captured the whole incident. They also told him they had already viewed the footage or was about to review it.

The officers asked McKenzie about the knife that he used and he said it was in his apartment.

McKenzie was subsequently placed under arrest on charges of home invasion and malicious wanton defacement of property.