By Jim Clark

At approximately 6:00 a.m. last Sunday morning, on-duty police officers observed an argument taking place between two men at 252 Somerville Ave., right behind the police station.

The officers noticed a taxi make a u-turn and park across the street from the two arguing men. When questioned by officers, the driver reportedly told them that one of the two men had been a passenger in the cab and that he was waiting to be paid for the ride. According to the driver, the fare’s bags and wallet were in the trunk of the car belonging to the other man involved in the verbal altercation.

When approached by officers, the man who reportedly held the other man’s baggage in his car, later identified as Timothy Zina, 23, of Lynnfield, told officers, “I have ADD and I really need to hear this.” Zina was holding a cell phone to his ear at this time, according to reports.

Officers repeatedly asked Zina to put down the phone and to open his car trunk so that the other man could retrieve his belongings and pay the taxi driver, but he continued the phone conversation, occasionally pointing at the officers and telling them that they were being rude and disrespectful, police said.

Zina eventually handed his car keys to the other man and his bags and wallet were retrieved. He was then able to pay the cab driver and then leave the scene.

Meanwhile, Zina reportedly continued to argue with the officers, asking for their badge numbers and demanding to see their supervisor.

Zina also reportedly mentioned that he had been drinking and officers noted that his eyes appeared to be glassy, suggesting that the man was intoxicated.

The officers then radioed for the street supervisor to come to the scene. Upon arrival, he was reportedly told by Zina that he wanted to register formal complaints against the investigating officers and that he was recording everything on his cell phone and also that his vehicle was recording the incident.

The street supervisor told the investigating officers to clear the scene so that they would be available for other calls, while he remained to continue speaking with Zina.

The officers moved away from the scene, but situated themselves so that they could observe Zina and the street supervisor discreetly from a distance.

The supervisor and Zina spoke for approximately fifteen minutes, then the supervisor began walking to his cruiser in order to leave the scene. Zina, however, reportedly followed him, engaging in more complaining.

After a few minutes of further discussion, the supervisor then attempted to drive away, but Zina reportedly followed alongside the cruise, apparently unwilling to end the discussion.

During one more attempt at driving away, Zina reportedly grabbed onto the driver’s side door handle of the cruiser, at which time the original investigating officers pulled up to lend assistance.

Zina reportedly repeated his earlier accusations against the investigating officers, shouting and pointing his finger at them, telling them they would have “another thing” coming to them.

As auto traffic began slowing down to observe the activity, and local residents were potentially being disturbed by the incident, it was decided that Zina should be placed under arrest and charged with disorderly conduct.