By Jim Clark

Somerville police responded to two separate reports of assaults with beer bottles last Friday night, both of which was apparently perpetrated by the same party.

One victim stated that as he was attempting to enter his apartment building at 109 Highland Avenue he was followed by a group of four men, one of whom allegedly hurled a beer bottle at the man’s head, shattering it to pieces.

Another incident, at 356 Broadway, was investigated by police at approximately the same time. Witnesses said that four men chased another man who was also struck with a beer bottle of the same brand as that used in the earlier assault.

As responding units arrived, a witness tipped officers off to the direction in which the alleged bottle wielding assailant had fled.

Police apprehended Jaime Vera, 21, of Wakefield, and charged him with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.