By Jim Clark

Police responded to reports of a disturbance at the Starbucks at 711 Somerville Ave. last Sunday. Upon arrival they reportedly encountered a highly distraught man who was yelling profanities as he wielded a small wooden bat.

The manager at Starbucks contacted police after repeated attempts to order the agitated man from the premises were unsuccessful. The manager told police that the man had been cursing at customers and behaving in a threatening manner.

Officers led the man, Rahkeen Gray, 38, out of the Starbucks and informed him that he would have to leave the premises. Gray reportedly continued cursing and spitting on the ground as he was led out of the store in handcuffs.

Officers on the scene noted that there an incident occurred earlier that same day involving Gray. Police were dispatched to his residence at Evergreen Square at the request of neighbors who said that Gray was yelling obscenities and making noises suggesting that he was breaking things inside his home.

Gray was reportedly confrontational and uncooperative with police during the earlier incident, but he was not placed under arrest at that time.

As officers instructed Gray to leave the Starbucks parking lot area he reportedly complained that did not get any sugar for his coffee. Police released Gray and insisted that he leave the area or else he would be placed under arrest.

Gray reportedly went inside the nearby Cumberland Farms gas station/convenience store where he commenced to glare out at the police officers as he continued to yell and make obscene hand gestures at them.

The officers momentarily left the scene hoping that Gray would calm down and leave the area. However, upon returning shortly thereafter to check the situation Gray was reportedly found once again to be in front of the Starbucks yelling and threatening customers with the wooden bat. Staff and customers of the nearby Laundromat were also reportedly intimidated by the man’s behavior.

Gray was placed under arrest and taken to jail, charged with disorderly conduct, trespassing, and assault with a dangerous weapon.