By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Canal St. location last Saturday on reports of a fight in progress.

Upon arrival, the officers encountered a large group of intoxicated and uncooperative individuals. They were informed that a man assaulted two women, but they were unable to locate any victims.

The man in question was highly intoxicated and behaving emotionally, but was able to get a ride home after being advised to leave the scene.

The officers left the scene, but three minutes later a fight involving four people outside a Canal St. apartment building was reported to Police Dispatch by several callers. One caller stated that one of the individuals involved in the fight had an axe or something with a handle.

Police officers were once again dispatched to the area, where they observed a man bleeding from his right cheek, chin, and hand, and walking with a limp.

The man approached the officers and stated that he was struck in the face with a shovel by Antonio Batista, but he did not want to press charges.

The victim was asked why he returned to the building after he had left, to which he stated that he was looking for his phone and it was then that he was allegedly attacked by Batista.

The officers requested Somerville Fire and EMS to respond to the scene, whereupon the victim was evaluated and transported to an area hospital by ambulance.

Police soon stopped a car owned and operated by Batista, who was asked to step out of the vehicle, and he was advised that they were investigating an assault and that he was named as a suspect.

The officers asked Batista if they could look in the trunk of his vehicle, at which time he consented and opened the trunk of his vehicle. A shovel was located in the trunk of the vehicle, corroborating the victim’s statement.

Based on the reporting parties’ statements, the victim’s statement, and the injuries sustained by the victim, Batista was placed under arrest under arrest on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.