By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to The Burren bar on Elm St. last Wednesday at approximately 1:00 a.m. on reports of a man hitting the door of The Burren with a chair.

Upon arrival, the officers discovered the man, later identified as Brendan Keeffe, at front door of The Burren, with a damaged metal chair next to him.

The officers approached Keeffe and asked him what was happening. Keeffe reportedly turned towards them and cursed at them.

The officers noticed that Keeffe had slow speech, was unsteady on his feet and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage was emitting from him.

Without warning, Keeffe reportedly reached rapidly at one of the officer’s department issue microphone that was clipped onto his sweater in the chest area. He was able to get full grip on it.

The officer immediately grabbed Keeffe’s right arm, preventing him from pulling the radio out. A struggle followed, with each of them eventually falling to the ground. The officer instructed Keeffe to place his hand behind his back but he refused.

The Burren security doorman observed how Keeffe was struggling with the officer on the floor while not following his commands and assisted in gaining control of Keeffe and handcuffing him behind his back.

The officers spoke with The Burren staff and were told that Keeffe arrived an hour earlier that night and started drinking, and at one point began to harass other customers inside of the bar.

Keeffe was asked to leave for night, and he was escorted outside and told that the bar was closed. Keeffe grabbed a chair and reportedly started to hit the front door of the bar. Inside the bar other customers became frightened and because of that it was decided that Somerville Police should be called.

Based on witness statements, Keeffe was placed under arrest on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.