By Jim Clark

Somerville police received reports that a man was repeatedly making obscene and hate-filled calls to 911 operators last Thursday.

By matching audio recordings of prior incidents to the current caller, it was determined that Richard Killeen, 66, was the perpetrator of the offensive calls, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to the man’s home to investigate. They found the house to be dark, but after knocking at the door they reportedly observed an elderly man peer out through a window.

According to reports Killeen asked the officers what they wanted and he was then asked if he had been making calls to 911. The man denied that he had made any calls, then opened the door and began moving toward the officers, police said.

Killeen was ordered to stop, but he reportedly continued to advance on the officers, eventually making contact with one of them, pushing him backwards toward the railing of the front porch.

The man was pushed back, but he took another step forward and swung his fist in an unsuccessful attempt to strike the officer.

The two officers on the scene reportedly struggled with the man in order to subdue him, but Killeen reportedly continued to hit and kick in his attempts to break free.

Killeen was eventually handcuffed and taken into custody. He has been charged with assault and battery on a police officer, making obscene phone calls, and resisting arrest.