By Jim Clark

Police responded to a 911 call reporting an alleged assault in progress at Summer and Putnam streets last Thursday morning. Dispatchers reportedly told responding officers that three men had exited a moving vehicle and were beating up one other man.

Officers arrived at the scene and separated the involved parties while questioning them as well as a witness who had called 911.

The witness reportedly told police that she had observed the alleged victim legally crossing the street through the crosswalk, but that a vehicle making a turn at the same time had narrowly missed hitting the man as it passed by him.

Words were exchanged between the alleged victim and occupants of the vehicle, according to the witness, after which the three occupants reportedly exited the vehicle and began beating on the alleged victim.

The witness stated that she began screaming for them to stop the beating and then placed the call to 911.

The three men involved in the alleged attack reportedly substantiated the witnesses’ testimony, but claimed that the alleged victim had brandished a straight razor during the verbal confrontation and that this precipitated the physical violence.

The men reportedly told police that the violent confrontation would not have occurred if the alleged victim had not threatened them with the razor.
Officers on the scene determined that all four men should be taken in and booked on relevant charges.

James Halliday, 32, Michael Dacy, 28, and Reif Larsen, 18, the occupants of the vehicle, were each charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot). The alleged victim was released from custody due to extending medical circumstances, but will be summonsed to court for arraignment for assault with a dangerous weapon (a knife).