By Jim Clark

On Monday, July 17, at approximately 7:03 p.m., Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Myrtle St. and Pearl St. on reports of a suspicious person. The reporting party was stating that an older woman wearing a sundress and black scarf was punching cars as they were driving by.

While en route, Somerville police dispatch updated the officers that the woman was going to be on Myrtle St. walking towards Washington St. They also said that the reporting party would be standing by at this location.

As the officers arrived on scene, they saw a woman matching the description provided walking in the area of Myrtle St. The officers attempted to speak with the woman, but she continued walking until they eventually caught up with her on the corner of Myrtle St. and Washington St.

The woman, later identified as Nadine Buckley, was intoxicated and belligerent, according to police. She immediately began yelling at officers to leave her alone and was reportedly very hostile towards them.

The officers asked Buckley if she punched vehicles driving by. She reportedly replied, “Yeah so what? They speed down my street and kill all the bunnies, so they deserve it.”

Buckley reportedly continued yelling at the officers, using racial epithets and walking towards them in an aggressive manner.

The officers attempted to place Buckley under arrest. She reportedly began pulling her arms away while simultaneously attempting to spit on the officers.

Buckley had a small brace on her right wrist making it very difficult to handcuff her. The officers determined that it was necessary to attach two sets of handcuffs in order to properly and effectively place her under arrest.

Buckley reportedly continued to resist, thrashing her body back and forth and pulling her arms away, continuously yelling at the officers.

Once Buckley was successfully handcuffed, the officers tried sitting her on the curb in an attempt to stop her tumultuous behavior, at which time Buckley began to kick at their legs.

Buckley continued hurling insults at officers and attempting to spit in their direction. She told an officer several times that she was going to “have Bob take care of you” and that she was going to “have you and your family killed.”

The officers spoke with the several witnesses that were now gathered at the scene.

The reporting party said he was traveling north on Myrtle St. when Buckley punched his vehicle. When asked if there was any damage on his vehicle, he stated that there was not. He only called because he was concerned about Buckley’s behavior.

A resident of Myrtle St. said she witnessed Buckley punch several vehicles as they were traveling up the street. She also said she has surveillance cameras outside of her home that would capture Buckley’s behavior and would provide police with a copy.

Another witness said he was attempting to drive up Myrtle St. but noticed there was a traffic jam. He then saw a female standing in the middle of the street and punching the vehicles that were stopped. The witness began recording on his cell phone and captured Buckley punching his driver side mirror. There was no damage to his vehicle. He provided police with a minute and a half video that he took of this incident.

Buckley suffered some minor scrapes and scratches during her arrest. EMS was requested and arrived on scene and medically cleared Buckley.

Police transported Buckley i to Somerville Police headquarters where she was booked on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.